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Using Scientific Evidence to Improve Information Practice

Policy Statement

To top of page Research and Health Sciences Librarians

Information issues have moved to a prominent position on the health care research agenda, and health sciences librarians are well placed to investigate many of them. To take advantage of this strategic position, health sciences librarians must increase their ability to

  • serve as research quality filters for their users;
  • apply health information research to information service practice, information policy, and other information issues confronting their institutions; and
  • conduct research relevant to health information problems.

Research is systematic inquiry into a problem, with the goal of gathering evidence to produce new knowledge. Research relevant to health information covers a spectrum that includes development of clinical indicators; curriculum analysis; program evaluation; abstracting and indexing; information storage and retrieval; thesaurus construction; technological innovation; assessment of information needs and information-seeking behavior; and study of the use and impact of information on patients, caregivers, researchers, and students.

In the inherently complex and multidisciplinary world of health information, many important research questions demand collaborative study involving practitioners and academicians; data from multiple sites; and experts from several disciplines, including information science

Scientific evidence gained from research supports better decision making in information service as well as in health care. The key to evidence-based information practice is the ongoing development and application of health information science research. Not all health sciences librarians will produce research, but all must effectively use the knowledge base generated by research. By using and adding to the research knowledge base of health information science, health sciences librarians can increase their real and perceived value to the health sciences community.

To top of page Research Goals for Health Sciences Librarians

Health sciences librarians have an unmatched opportunity to make positive contributions to health care and to information policy. To take advantage of this opportunity, librarians must:

  • understand that the knowledge base of their profession applies to health information problems that go beyond bibliographic data and library collections
  • increase their ability to analyze and appraise research results in their own discipline as well as their users' disciplines
  • use the health information science knowledge base to design, develop, and market new health information systems and services, including those that integrate scientific literature with other types of health-related information
  • apply the health information science knowledge base to other clinical, educational, and research information problems confronting their institutions
  • add to the health information science knowledge base by carrying out research that is broadly relevant to the organization, delivery, use, and impact of information on health care, biomedical research, and health professionals' education

The analysis and application of the research knowledge base of information science must become part of the culture of health sciences librarianship. In addition to basing decisions about information services on scientific evidence, health sciences librarians must be alert to opportunities to apply their knowledge base to any information issue that is important to health care, research, and education.

The percentage of health sciences librarians with full- or part-time research as a job responsibility should be comparable to the percentage of researchers in other health professions. The number of practicing health sciences librarians who are directing or participating in research and disseminating research results must increase.

To top of page Role of Individual Health Sciences Librarians

The primary responsibility for increasing the profession's research contribution rests with individual health sciences librarians. Individuals must:

  • design a personal lifelong learning program that includes improvement of research skills, including critical appraisal or quality filtering of published research
  • take advantage of available training, funding, and other research support services
  • apply the results of research routinely to library and information service practice, to the development of information policy, and to other information issues important to health care institutions
  • seek out potential research collaborators within their institutions, in other libraries, in schools of library and information science, and in other organizations
  • devote professional time to directing research activity, to facilitating health information research by others, or to participating in institutional quality or research initiatives
  • disseminate results of critical analyses of research evidence, reports of applications of research to practice, information about research in progress, and new research findings; and
  • recognize and encourage the research activity of colleagues.

To top of page Role of the Medical Library Association

To facilitate research by its members, the Medical Library Association (MLA) collaborates with other groups including educators, administrators, health care professionals, researchers, policy makers, and funders to establish an environment that is conducive to increased production and use of research. This positive environment includes

  • access to a broad range of relevant education and training,
  • advice and assistance for librarians embarking on research,
  • adequate research funding,
  • incentives for collaborative research,
  • flexible and supportive employment situations, and recognition of research work

As part of a broader program of data collection and analysis aimed at understanding the activities and needs of health sciences librarians, MLA develops and applies measurements of the research activity of its members.

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