Keeping Up to DateAllison Bell

Gerstein Science LibraryApril 7, 2011

Practical methods for LLL

Good current awareness programs are:

• Efficient, preferably AUTOMATED “Set it and forget it”

• Focused on your highest priorities

• Manageable (you can make time to read what arrives)

Develop a Current Awareness Program

1. Set Goals

2. Choose Activities

3. Evaluate Success

4. Re-tool if necessary

First: Set Goals• What news do I need to hear to do my job

properly?

• What news do I need to hear to keep up to date with my professional development?

• Identify knowledge gaps

• Passionate interests

Think of some current awareness goals for

yourself. What are they?

Consider Type of Info.

• Guidelines, best practices

• Systematic reviews

• Synopses

• Articles

More Synthesized

Less Synthesized

Second: Develop Activities

• Browser ‘Favourites’ or Bookmarks

• RSS

• Email Alerts

• TOC Alerts

Turn Each Goal into Activity

Example: • GOAL: Read everything new that comes out

about the Gardasil vaccine

• ACTIVITY: Set up an automated search or RSS feed in Pubmed for any new articles on the Gardasil/HPV vaccine

Key to Success:Make time in your schedule!

Third: Evaluate Effectiveness

• Too much? Too little? Bad/no results?

• Missing anything?

• Adjust, then try again

RSS Feed Readers

• Google Reader• Bloglines• IE or Outlook• FeedReader

Choose one that you find easy to use, easy to remember

Add RSS Feeds

Why set up RSS readers?

Maintain anonymityThey have your email address!

1-click “mark as read” = never see them again

Have to delete unwanted emails

Leave your email for real people

Clogs your inbox

Unsubscribe in one clickUnsubscribe requests may be ignored/delayed

RSSEmail

Twitter

• @CochraneCollab

• @CDCemergency

• @CDCgov

• @gersteinlibrary

Automated Searches

• Perform search• Look for ‘Save Search’ button

Keep Current Using Pubmed

• RSS or Automated Searches

• Clinical Queries (for evidence based results)

• Regular Pubmed search (for all results)

Automated Searches Using Clinical Queries

Create RSS feed or Save Search

Email Alerts: Pubmed

Change the:

•frequency, •day of the week•format of delivery

to suit your preferences.

Your email address here…

TOC alerts

• Can be via email or RSS depending on the journal.

• You do not need to subscribe to the journal

“Each feed lists the contents of the latest issue, with article summaries”

TOCs through RSS

Keeping Current: Where to Start?

• Canadian Journal of Public Health

• American Journal of Epidemiology

• American Journal of Public Health

• Health Affairs

• Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP)

More titles in the Public Health Research Guide:

http://guides.library.utoronto.ca/publichealth

Be Picky when Picking Sources

Pick professional sources for….

• Reliability (both content AND schedule)

• Can it deliver in a set-and-forget mode?

• Relevance to your learning GOALS

What about your clients?

Some considerations:

• Pick patient information sources for…

– Quality (reflect latest/best knowledge)

– Readability (consider levels, language)

– Usability/learning styles (Interactive? Print?)

Critical Evaluation of Web Sources

• More advertising= be more wary!– Pop ups? ‘Scam’ Ads?

• Statements of responsibility, credentials

• Quality of content, interface

• How current?

• Personal information collected/used?

Free Consumer Health Sources

• http://medlineplus.gov/

• Toronto Public Library Health Information: http://chis.wikidot.com/

Questions?

Contact Info

Allison.bell@utoronto.caAsk.gerstein@utoronto.ca

http://www.library.utoronto.ca/gerstein