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Effectiveness of training health professionals in literature search skills using electronic health databases—a critical appraisal
Author(s) -
Garg Anupama,
Turtle Kathleen M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
health information and libraries journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.779
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1471-1842
pISSN - 1471-1834
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-1842.2003.00416.x
Subject(s) - cinahl , critical appraisal , medline , cochrane library , inclusion (mineral) , medicine , health professionals , medical education , psychology , randomized controlled trial , nursing , health care , alternative medicine , psychological intervention , surgery , social psychology , economic growth , pathology , political science , law , economics
Abstract The objective was to assess the effect on health professionals’ skills of one to eight hours literature search and retrieval training from electronic health databases. We searched: Cochrane library (2002; Issue 3), medline (1977–2002/5), embase (1980–2002/7); cinahl (1982–2002/5); assia (1982–2002/7), bni (1994–2002/5), eric (1985–2002/6); lisa (1969—current), NRR (2002, Issue 2), the world‐wide‐web and references. The selection criteria consisted of randomised controlled trials, controlled before and after, and controlled cohort studies in comparison with no training. The intervention had to be one to eight hours training in literature search and retrieval skills for health professionals. The outcome was the effect on health professionals’ literature search and retrieval skill levels measured through reliable instruments. For data collection and ana‐lysis, one reviewer extracted data and assessed the quality of the studies and the second reviewer checked it. The results indicate that there is some evidence of positive impact on health professionals’ skill levels in literature searching and they find the training useful. In conclusion, the size of the positive effect is debatable as only three small and methodologically weak studies met the inclusion criteria and out of those only two showed the positive effect.