Informatics: A Primer

Mary Lou Klem, PhD, MLIS

Health Sciences Library System

University of Pittsburgh

What is it?

The study and use of information and communication systems

Coiera, 2003, pg xxii

The field of information science concerned with the analysis and dissemination of data through the application of computers

National Library of Medicine (MeSH), 2005

…the interdisciplinary study of the design, application, use and impact of information technology

http://www.ics.uci.edu/informatics/qa/#general02

What is it?

The study and use of information and communication systems

Coiera, 2003, pg xxii

The field of information science concerned with the analysis and dissemination of data through the application of computers

National Library of Medicine (MeSH), 2005

…the interdisciplinary study of the design, application, use and impact of information technology

http://www.ics.uci.edu/informatics/qa/#general02

Friedman, et al., 2004

The practice of informatics requires

• A set of skills derived from the informational and computing sciences

Friedman, et al., 2004

Core Skills

Friedman, et al., 2004

The practice of informatics requires

• A set of skills derived from the informational and computing sciences

• Knowledge, experience and activity in one or more application domains or sub domains– Biomedical informatics

• Bioinformatics• Imaging informatics• Clinical informatics• Public health informatics

Why Now?

Citations in MEDLINE Over Time

0123456789

10111213141516

Millions

1954 1974 1999 2006

As cited in Schoolman & Lindberg, 1988

John Shaw BillingsDirector, National Library of Medicine

1881

“The geometric progression of publication in medicine of the last few decades, if continued, would lead to the absurd conclusion that the time would soon come when it would require the services of everyone in the world not engaged in writing to catalogue and index the annual output of medical literature.”

Growth of Molecular Databases

Source: Nodal Point Blog

http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/guides/genetics

Source: nodalpoint.org

How do librarians do informatics?

Helms, et al., 2004

Bioinformatics: Librarian Opportunities

• Collection development

• Education and training

• Communication

Bioinformatics: HSLS

• Collection development– Site licensing of bioinformatics resources

• Prevents purchasing of multiple licenses by individual labs or departments within the School of Medicine

• Estimated cost savings 2005-2006 for 2 databases: $200,000

Bioinformatics: HSLS

• Education and training– Molecular Biology Information Service

• Introductory workshops on use of molbio software and databases• One-to-one consultations• Search.HSLS.MolBio

www.hsls.pitt.edu/guides/genetics/

Bioinformatics: HSLS

• Communication

Bioinformatics: HSLS

• Communication– Head of MolBio Service: PhD in biochemistry

• Assistant Information Specialists: PhD in biology or neuroscience • Current Assistant has PhD + MLIS

PubMed’s Clinical Queries

• There are different types of clinical questions– Therapy: does compression bandaging increase the

healing of venous leg ulcers compared with no compression?

– Prognosis: Does having a stroke increase risk of dementia in older people?

• There are different types of “best evidence” for answering these different types of questions

“Best Evidence” for Question Type

Question Type Best Evidence

Therapy Individual randomized controlled trials

Prognosis Individual cohort studies or follow-up studies that assess morbidity, mortality or survival

A lit search for best evidence must include:

• Terminology reflecting the clinical concepts– Venous leg ulcers, compression bandaging– Stroke, dementia, elderly

• Terminology capturing characteristics of “best evidence”– Randomized controlled trial– Follow-up or cohort study

PubMed Clinical Queries (Haynes, et al)

Question Type MEDLINE Query

Therapy “Clinical trial” in Title/Abstract OR clinical trials in MeSH OR clinical trial in Publication Type OR random* in Title/Abstract OR “random allocation” in MeSH OR “therapeutic use” in MeSH Subheading

Prognosis Incidence in MeSH OR mortality in MeSH OR follow up studies in MeSH OR prognos* in Title/Abstract OR predict* in Title/Abstract OR course* in Title/Abstract

Summary and Discussion

• Informatics is about information

• Librarians can be involved in traditional roles– Collection development– Development of search tools (queries)

• An opportunity for novel projects and roles– HSLS MolBio Information Services