Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Evidence-based knowledge is met with suspicion and rejection by many clinicians. In the mental health field the situation is further complicated by the fact that large and influential groups of professionals do not have an academic background, complex interventions are the rule, and there is a strong emphasis on a personal and individual approach to patients, as opposed to scientific knowledge.
Objectives: To present how the Mental Health module of the Norwegian Health Library, by taking into account the particularities of the mental health field, can facilitate the communication of evidence-based practice to a broad range of mental health personnel.
Methods: The Mental Health module of the Norwegian Health Library takes an eclectic approach to the dissemination of evidence-based knowledge by combining different traditions, and extensively taking clinical context into account:
1. Evidence-based knowledge is presented alongside a broad range of clinically useful information.
2. Journalistic techniques, i.e. the use of several sources, emphasis on the readers' viewpoint, and a clear and colourful presentation is applied in the coverage of content within the module and when covering external content.
3. Development of the site and production of content involves an extensive network of professionals with different backgrounds and perspectives, while we maintain full editorial independence of the service.
4. A broad array of fields are covered, taking the needs of clinicians, rather than diagnostic classification, as the primary starting point.
Results: The results of user surveys, site statistics, media coverage and other sources of feedback will be presented. Among the questions to be adressed are:
Is evidence-based knowledge more acceptable among practitioners when the providers of such knowledge also present the limitations of the approach? Does anchoring the library in clinical practice facilitate the dissemination of evidence-based messages?
Conclusions: The viability of the contextual and pluralistic approach taken by the Mental Health module of the Norwegian Health Library in disseminating evidence-based knowledge will be evaluated.
Objectives: To present how the Mental Health module of the Norwegian Health Library, by taking into account the particularities of the mental health field, can facilitate the communication of evidence-based practice to a broad range of mental health personnel.
Methods: The Mental Health module of the Norwegian Health Library takes an eclectic approach to the dissemination of evidence-based knowledge by combining different traditions, and extensively taking clinical context into account:
1. Evidence-based knowledge is presented alongside a broad range of clinically useful information.
2. Journalistic techniques, i.e. the use of several sources, emphasis on the readers' viewpoint, and a clear and colourful presentation is applied in the coverage of content within the module and when covering external content.
3. Development of the site and production of content involves an extensive network of professionals with different backgrounds and perspectives, while we maintain full editorial independence of the service.
4. A broad array of fields are covered, taking the needs of clinicians, rather than diagnostic classification, as the primary starting point.
Results: The results of user surveys, site statistics, media coverage and other sources of feedback will be presented. Among the questions to be adressed are:
Is evidence-based knowledge more acceptable among practitioners when the providers of such knowledge also present the limitations of the approach? Does anchoring the library in clinical practice facilitate the dissemination of evidence-based messages?
Conclusions: The viability of the contextual and pluralistic approach taken by the Mental Health module of the Norwegian Health Library in disseminating evidence-based knowledge will be evaluated.