Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: The Cochrane Library is one of the most reliable sources of health information about 'what works’ in healthcare. Yet access in Canada is limited; approximately 10% of Canadians have access to The Cochrane Library. In response, a national pilot license was instituted that gave all Canadians 'one-click’ access to The Cochrane Library for one year.
Objective: To determine the impact of a national license on use of The Cochrane Library in Canada.
Methods: We performed: (1) an interrupted time series study of use of The Cochrane Library in Canada and (2) a cross-sectional anonymous survey of users of the Library ($ox{n}=1192$). Monthly use of The Cochrane Library (in terms of the number of: full-text downloads, access denials, abstracts viewed, and searches conducted) for the pilot period was compared with the expected numbers based on the 12 months preceding the pilot. The survey assessed characteristics of users of The Cochrane Library and their attitudes towards the Library.
Results: Use of The Cochrane Library increased as a result of the pilot license. During the pilot, the number of full-text downloads and abstracts viewed were 65% (95% CI 34%, 96%) and 7% (95% CI 0%, 15%) higher than expected, respectively. The number of access denials and searches conducted decreased; there were 83% fewer denials (95% CI -97%, -70%) and 13% fewer searches (95% CI -20%, -6%) than expected. Attitudes towards the Library were positive with 88% and 91% of survey respondents reporting the Library as important to making good healthcare decisions and for all Canadians to have access to, respectively.
Conclusions: Canadians want better access to high quality health knowledge. The provision of a national pilot license to The Cochrane Library in Canada significantly increased its use and, as a result, has the potential to positively impact the healthcare Canadians receive.
Objective: To determine the impact of a national license on use of The Cochrane Library in Canada.
Methods: We performed: (1) an interrupted time series study of use of The Cochrane Library in Canada and (2) a cross-sectional anonymous survey of users of the Library ($ox{n}=1192$). Monthly use of The Cochrane Library (in terms of the number of: full-text downloads, access denials, abstracts viewed, and searches conducted) for the pilot period was compared with the expected numbers based on the 12 months preceding the pilot. The survey assessed characteristics of users of The Cochrane Library and their attitudes towards the Library.
Results: Use of The Cochrane Library increased as a result of the pilot license. During the pilot, the number of full-text downloads and abstracts viewed were 65% (95% CI 34%, 96%) and 7% (95% CI 0%, 15%) higher than expected, respectively. The number of access denials and searches conducted decreased; there were 83% fewer denials (95% CI -97%, -70%) and 13% fewer searches (95% CI -20%, -6%) than expected. Attitudes towards the Library were positive with 88% and 91% of survey respondents reporting the Library as important to making good healthcare decisions and for all Canadians to have access to, respectively.
Conclusions: Canadians want better access to high quality health knowledge. The provision of a national pilot license to The Cochrane Library in Canada significantly increased its use and, as a result, has the potential to positively impact the healthcare Canadians receive.