Jonathan D Eldredge1, Richard Carr, David Broudy, Ronald E Voorhees. 1. Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center, University of New Mexico, MSC09 5100, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA. jeldredge@salud.unm.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To improve understanding of the information-seeking behaviors of public health professionals, the authors conducted this randomized controlled trial involving sixty participants to determine whether library and informatics training, with an emphasis on PubMed searching skills, increased the frequency and sophistication of participants' practice-related questions. METHODS: The intervention group (n = 34) received evidence-based public health library and informatics training first, whereas the control group (n = 26) received identical training two weeks later. The frequency and sophistication of the questions generated by both intervention and control groups during the interim two-week period served as the basis for comparison. RESULTS: The intervention group reported an average of almost 1.8 times more questions than those reported by the control group (1.24 vs. 0.69 questions per participant); however, this difference did not reach statistical significance. The intervention group overall produced more sophisticated (foreground) questions than the control group (18 vs. 9); however, this difference also did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The training provided in the current study seemed to prompt public health practitioners to identify and articulate questions more often. Training appears to create the necessary precondition for increased information-seeking behavior among public health professionals.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To improve understanding of the information-seeking behaviors of public health professionals, the authors conducted this randomized controlled trial involving sixty participants to determine whether library and informatics training, with an emphasis on PubMed searching skills, increased the frequency and sophistication of participants' practice-related questions. METHODS: The intervention group (n = 34) received evidence-based public health library and informatics training first, whereas the control group (n = 26) received identical training two weeks later. The frequency and sophistication of the questions generated by both intervention and control groups during the interim two-week period served as the basis for comparison. RESULTS: The intervention group reported an average of almost 1.8 times more questions than those reported by the control group (1.24 vs. 0.69 questions per participant); however, this difference did not reach statistical significance. The intervention group overall produced more sophisticated (foreground) questions than the control group (18 vs. 9); however, this difference also did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The training provided in the current study seemed to prompt public health practitioners to identify and articulate questions more often. Training appears to create the necessary precondition for increased information-seeking behavior among public health professionals.
Authors: Uriyoán Colón-Ramos; Ana C Lindsay; Rafael Monge-Rojas; Mary L Greaney; Hannia Campos; Karen E Peterson Journal: Health Policy Plan Date: 2007-10-19 Impact factor: 3.344
Authors: Laure Perrier; Ann Farrell; A Patricia Ayala; David Lightfoot; Tim Kenny; Ellen Aaronson; Nancy Allee; Tara Brigham; Elizabeth Connor; Teodora Constantinescu; Joanne Muellenbach; Helen-Ann Brown Epstein; Ardis Weiss Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2014-05-28 Impact factor: 4.497
Authors: Jonathan D Eldredge; Laura J Hall; Karen R McElfresh; Teddy D Warner; Tiffany L Stromberg; Jaren Trost; Devin A Jelinek Journal: J Med Libr Assoc Date: 2016-01