Background: The Cochrane Library is one of the key sources of systematically summarized research for health professionals worldwide. Many of those who go to this site have not visited it before, and therefore have no previous knowledge about its content, information structure, or navigational design. Some may also not know where to find the site, and are entering through search engines.

Objectives: Test the degree to which health professionals with little or no previous knowledge of the Cochrane Library are able to find and use the site adequately.

Methods: Norwegian health professionals with little or no previous user experience of the site will be asked to participate. Testing will occur individually. Each test person will be given a predetermined set of tasks to solve. A web camera and microphone will capture the test person’s reactions on video; a separate technology will be used to simultaneously capture all movement on the desktop. A test leader will be present to assist in case of technical difficulties and also to ask questions, inviting the test person to verbalize their train of thought underway. The test videos will be analyzed for outcomes by two researchers.
Relevant outcome measures will be identified in collaboration with medical librarians who have extensive experience in teaching health professionals search and critical appraisal skills.

Results: Results will be presented with the help of an edited video from the testing.