Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: In July 2004, Saskatchewan became the first province in Canada to provide all residents with access to The Cochrane Library (the Library).
Objectives: The primary aim of the project is to enhance and monitor the use of the Library.
Methods: Since September 2004, over 350 librarians and healthcare professionals have received training in how to search the Library online databases. Attendees at the workshops are informed of the evaluation project and invited to participate. Those who consent to participate are telephoned following the workshops and an audio-taped interview is conducted. Visits to the Library website are tracked by Wiley InterScience.
Results: To date, three-month (n=92), six month (n=67), nine month (n=59), and 12 month (n=54) follow-up telephone interviews have been conducted with workshop attendees. Most were librarians (40%), followed by other healthcare professionals (21%). At three months most (65%) had accessed the Library. This percentage fell to 27% one year later. Most found the Library to be somewhat helpful to very helpful (82%). Only 16% did not find the information they were seeking. The greatest proportion reported that they had learned something new (50%), others reported that it helped with their decision-making (40%), and for others the information confirmed what they already knew (25%). Between January and December 2005 the Library was visited 5,556 times, and during these visits 8,947 full text items were accessed. The component of the Library most frequently accessed was The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (68%).
Conclusions: The use of the Library is increasing in Saskatchewan, particularly by librarians. We had initially targeted librarians as they are the first contact with many healthcare providers and consumers. Further strategies are needed to target healthcare practitioners and consumers directly. Funded by the Saskatchewan's Health Quality Council.
Objectives: The primary aim of the project is to enhance and monitor the use of the Library.
Methods: Since September 2004, over 350 librarians and healthcare professionals have received training in how to search the Library online databases. Attendees at the workshops are informed of the evaluation project and invited to participate. Those who consent to participate are telephoned following the workshops and an audio-taped interview is conducted. Visits to the Library website are tracked by Wiley InterScience.
Results: To date, three-month (n=92), six month (n=67), nine month (n=59), and 12 month (n=54) follow-up telephone interviews have been conducted with workshop attendees. Most were librarians (40%), followed by other healthcare professionals (21%). At three months most (65%) had accessed the Library. This percentage fell to 27% one year later. Most found the Library to be somewhat helpful to very helpful (82%). Only 16% did not find the information they were seeking. The greatest proportion reported that they had learned something new (50%), others reported that it helped with their decision-making (40%), and for others the information confirmed what they already knew (25%). Between January and December 2005 the Library was visited 5,556 times, and during these visits 8,947 full text items were accessed. The component of the Library most frequently accessed was The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (68%).
Conclusions: The use of the Library is increasing in Saskatchewan, particularly by librarians. We had initially targeted librarians as they are the first contact with many healthcare providers and consumers. Further strategies are needed to target healthcare practitioners and consumers directly. Funded by the Saskatchewan's Health Quality Council.