The costs and effectiveness of information‐skills training and mediated searching: quantitative results from the EMPIRIC project

Abstract

Objectives : To compare the effectiveness and costs of providing information for patient care via librarian-mediated searches and information-skills training. Methods : A questionnaire survey to library staff and health professionals in the North West. Data was collected on perceptions of services, satisfaction and service usage, allowing a cost analysis to be undertaken. Statistical data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (  ). Results : Using satisfaction and use of skills as outcome measures, both mediated searches and information skills training are effective. A breakdown of costs per type of training session and literature search is provided. Cost-effectiveness is dependent on whether costs are viewed from a library or trust point of view. Providing information skills training does not reduce the volume of mediatedsearch requests. Conclusions : No one method of providing information for health professionals is more effective or cost-effective than another. A decision about which services to provide cannot be made on the basis of effectiveness or costs alone; the views of library staff and the health professionals they serve should also be taken into account. A proactive approach and targeting training towards those who are most likely to benefit may be an appropriate way forward.

Just-in-Time Information Improved Decision-Making in Primary Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…This finding is similar to a previous study by Ely et al, who reported that physicians did not seek answers to many of their questions (55%), often suspecting a lack of usable information [16]. A recent study compared the effectiveness and costs of providing information for patient care via librarian-mediated searching versus information skills training for health professionals and found that both were similar [17]. Our results also suggest that it is less costly for librarians to locate relevant information than primary care providers.…”

Effectiveness of information skills training and mediated searching: qualitative results from the EMPIRIC project

“…Either training is less successful for this group of people, or there is a 'confidence gap' when putting the skills they have found in practice, as has been noted elsewhere. 22 The majority of health professionals (almost two-thirds) believed their skills improved and were satisfied with the results of their searches reported in the previous paper, 4 indicating that training was effective. Nevertheless, this leaves a large proportion for whom training could be seen as unsuccessful and a closer examination of the findings showed that one-third believed that training was unsuccessful in formulating search questions, improving search skills or reducing the time taken to find information.…”

“…3 The quantitative data is reported in the first paper, in a previous issue of Health Information and Libraries Journal. 4 …”

“…The full project is written up in a series of reports [1][2][3] and a summary of the background and quantitative findings can be found in the first paper, published in a previous issue of Health and Information Libraries Journal. 4 This, our second article, presents the views of library staff, dedicated trainers and health professionals on the provision and effectiveness of information skills training and mediated searches. It also compares the findings with quantitative data obtained during the project to provide a pragmatic view of the evidence and goes on to suggest how libraries can effectively provide information for patient care.…”

Expert searching in health librarianship: a literature review to identify international issues and Australian concerns

“…Health Libraries Australia has no expert searching guidelines, specialised qualification or registration in expert searching, or a requirement for members to maintain CPD. The literature search revealed no uniform guidelines or ‘…standard and validated methods of assessing the quality of mediated searches…’ 75 by librarian organisations. Without such quality control for mediated searches, what issues have been reported in the literature?…”