Who uses The Cochrane Library? Data from two online surveys of users of The Cochrane Library on the Wiley InterScience platform

Article type
Authors
Pentesco-Gilbert D
Abstract
Background: The Cochrane Library is available to millions of users throughout the world via national licences funded by governments, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization, Bireme, the Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative (HINARI) and the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP), institutional licences and personal subscriptions. However, little is known about who uses them, when they are used and for what purpose. Two web-based survey instruments will be the source of the data used to determine the demographics, profile and usage patterns of Wiley InterScience Cochrane Library (CLIB) users during the period of 6 December 2005 to 12 January 2006 and again in April/May 2006.

Objectives: To identify the user profile of The Cochrane Library on Wiley InterScience. To identify the reasons for usage.

Methods: Data collected from the online web surveys, approved by The Cochrane Collaboration. The first survey was provided and recruitment was via a pop-up and CLIB site advertising of the survey. The pop-up was presented only once to each user. The second survey followed the same methods but was also advertised and linked off the homepage, Cochrane.org and promoted on various email lists of potential users.

Results: These will be presented graphically based on the questionnaire and with a further breakdown by the top countries' usage and response. The results will also be summarized in commentary sections.

Conclusions: It should be noted when drawing conclusions that these data are limited to Wiley InterScience users and do not include considerable usage via third party data suppliers and those with access to Cochrane review abstracts via PubMed or Cochrane.org.