Using the Biomedical Library and itsResources

Public Health & Epidemiology

PHE 131Winter 2011

Becoming Efficient Information Managers

Assignment will be due January 14, 2011 Submit via email to brossini@bbl.usouthal.edu

Beverly Rossini, MLISInformation Resources LibrarianOutreach Librarian

Contact Information:

Phone: (251) 460-6893Fax: (251) 460-7638Email: brossini@bbl.usouthal.edu

http://biomedicallibrary.southalabama.edu

University of South Alabama: Biomedical Library Sites

Primarily supports the academic health sciences (College of Medicine, College of Nursing & Allied Health).

Baugh Biomedical Library Campus Site

University of South Alabama: Biomedical Library Sites

University Medical Center site

Primarily supports the clinical medicine specialties-collection concentrates on patient care and treatment. Also houses aConsumer Health Resource Center.

University of South Alabama: Biomedical Library Sites

Children’s and Women’s Hospital site

Primarily supports obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics – which is reflected by the library’s collection.

Learning Objectives•Students retrieve library holdings in print and electronic formats.•Students apply limits to search tools and narrow results.•Students distinguish between keyword searching and searching with a controlled vocabulary.•Students define Evidence Based Medicine and classify the five levels of evidence.•Students select the appropriate tool to locate a systematic review.•Students use a point of care tool and link to evidence in order to verify a diagnosis or treatment plan.•Students explore freely accessible vetted tools on the World Wide Web.

USA – College of Medicine Learning Objectives

Prior to graduation from medical school, students will have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the faculty the following:

Skills (the ability to) 15. acquire and manage the information physicians

need in order to carry out their various responsibilities and to acquire, evaluate, and utilize information contained in the medical literature.

Resources to Know

1. SouthCAT2. Journal Search3. PubMed4. Cochrane Library5. Dynamed6. Stat!Ref/ ACP PIER 7. National Guideline Clearinghouse8. Google (vetted resources - CDC)

Keeping Current: The ChallengesKeeping up-to-date with the newest advancements in medical research and treatments.

In a set of journals pertinent to primary care physicians in 2002: 7,287 articles are published monthly. A physician trained in epidemiology would take an estimated 627.5 hours per month to evaluate articles pertinent to his practice.1

1Alper BS, , Hand JA, and Elliott SG. "How much effort is needed to keep up with the literature relevant for primary care?." Journal Medical o the Library Association. 92.4 (2004): 429-437.

Keeping Current: The Challenges

Information available through multiple sources in numerous formats.

– In biomedical research, the amount of experimental data and published scientific information is “overwhelming and ever increasing, which may inhibit rather than stimulate scientific progress.”2

2 Weeber M, Kors JA, Mons B. Online tools to support literature-based discovery in the life sciences.” Briefings in Bioinformatics. 2005 September; 6 (3): 277.

Lifelong Learning

• Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM/EBP)• Combining clinical skills with evidence found in the best, most

current research.

• Better informed general public• 8 in 10 Internet users go online to look up health related

information.1

• Among Internet users who say their last health related search had an impact, 54% say the information led them to ask their doctors new questions or get a second opinion from another doctor.1

1 Online health search 2006. Pew Internet & American Life Project. Available online at http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Online_Health_2006.pdf.

Evidence Based Medicine (EBM)“Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. The practice of evidence-based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research.” 2

Short definition: “the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values.”3

2Sackett DL, Rosenberg WMC, Gray JAM, Haynes RB, Richardson WS. Evidence-based medicine: what it is and what it isn't. BMJ 1996; 312: 71-2. 3Sackett, DL. Evidence-based medicine: how to practice and teach EBM. New York: Churchill-Livingston, 2000.

Evidence Based Medicine (EBM)

Research Evidence

Since EBM’s focus is on patient-oriented, outcomes-based research (as opposed to expert led medicine), the medical literature is searched and evaluated to determine what data is available to address the questions arising in clinical practice.

Electronic Health Record - Computer

systemClinical Evidence , PIER,

Dynamed, UpToDate

ACP Journal Club, Cochrane Library

PubMED Clinical Queries, guidelines

Original Studies

Levels of Evidence Hierarchy

Class Assignment Posted

Public Health & Epidemiology Library Assignment

http://biomedicallibrary.southalabama.edu/library/classes/modules/phe.htm

Assignment will be due January 14, 2011 by 5 PM.

Submit via email to brossini@bbl.usouthal.edu

There are ten questions to answer for 31 possible points. I will simply grade # correct out of 31. Your instructor will assign a weight to the assignment.