Immersing and integrating: A logic model for embedded research librarianship in a

Health Information Network

Yongtao Lin1, Renee Reaume1, Marcus Vaska1, Christopher Cameron2

1.Health Information Network Calgary, University of Calgary, Canada2 Alberta Health Services, Canada

June 13, 2011

• 117,000 health professionals and support staff

• 15,000 volunteers • 7,400 physicians • 3.7 million Albertans• 98 Acute care hospitals• 5 stand alone psychiatric facilities• 7,802 acute care beds• 19,557 long-term care &

supportive living beds / spaces, plus equity partnership in 33 Primary Care Networks.

Health Information Network Calgary

•Access to resources

•Information literacy

•Outreach

•Evidence-based information support

“Excellent research influences understanding, creates new knowledge and applications.”*

*"Strategic Research Plan, 2011, University of Calgary."

Health Information Network Satellites

Rockyview General HospitalKnowledge Centre

Alberta Children’s HospitalKnowledge Centre

Peter Lougheed Knowledge Centre Women's Health

Knowledge Centre

Health Sciences Library(UofC)

Tom Baker Cancer Knowledge Centre

Holy Cross Touchdown Suite

Embedded Librarianship

• Actively engage in relationship-building activities

• ‘‘possess extensive knowledge of their customers’ work’’

• perform complex analysis • offer specific services for the

core users

(Shumaker & Talley, 2009, p. 34).

Why Embed, Immerse and Integrate in Research?

• Enhance education• Increase research efficiency and effectiveness • Improve quality and quantity of information

.

.

.

• Improve patient care outcomes (Esparza, 2010)

A Logic Model for Embedded Research Librarianship

– Why• Purpose

– Who• Applied Research Team• Population Health Innovation

& Decision Support• Healthy Public Policy• Psychosocial Resources

– When:

• Initiation• Development• Expansion• Follow-Through• Evaluation

ACTIVITIES OUTPUTS OUTCOMES

Applied Research Team meeting

Pilot Study Plan & Checklist

•Researcher Readiness

Support the Applied Research Team, as well as researchers working within the field of Public Health

1. Resource Checklist (13 databases, 15 journals, 25 websites , 7 documents on systematic reviews)

2. Subject-based Toolkits for researchers (Public Health Toolkit)

•Serve as starting point for researchers•Serve as a guide

•Serve as a resource to provide a central starting point

ACTIVITIES OUTPUTS OUTCOMES

Introductory meeting

1. 29 meetings with 12 researchers seeking support

2. 10 topics discussed 3. # of different

expressed needs

•Clear, manageable, and answerable questions•Clear to an educated lay audience•General understanding of the topic for the librarian

Librarian conducts preliminary information search

1. # of core resources accessed

2. # of topic-specific resources accessed

3. # of hours spent

•Increased efficiency and effectiveness

ACTIVITIES OUTPUTS OUTCOMES

Brainstorming session

Documenting Search Strategies & Resources 1.# of search terms used2.# of resources used 3.# of hours spent

•Greater awareness of unknown resources•Clearer sense of how to search for and acquire needed information •Higher confidence

Follow-up meeting 1. # of different types of consultation sought

2. # of hours spent

•More of a systematicsearch strategy •Quality and/or quantity of information improved •Feeling continuously supported

ACTIVITIES OUTPUTS OUTCOMES

Researcher support (during & after the searching phase)

1. # of different types of support sought & provided

2. # of hours spent

•Improve resource management skills •Saving time•Increased awareness of available technological aids •Greater efficiency in searching

Types of Library Support

• Bibliographic Management• Brainstorming • Citation Verification • Creating, Compiling, Editing • Current Awareness/Knowledge Sharing • Literature Searching• Research Skills/Instruction

…

Evaluation Methodology

• Interviews to:– Measure the effectiveness and impact of an

embedded research librarian in an applied research team

– Identify areas and new resources that our services would need to further address

– Understand better about changes of behavior, collaborative relationships and activities of both researchers and the librarian

• Analyze the output data and interview data

Questions and Comments?

Yongtao Lin, MLIS

Tom Baker Cancer Knowledge Centre

Health Information Network Calgary

University of Calgary, Canada

yolin@ucalgary.ca

1-403-521-3285

Image credited to Habat Lekuwait