Premium
NHS librarians collaborate to develop a search bank peer reviewing and sharing COVID ‐19 searches: an evaluation
Author(s) -
Gorring Hélène,
Divall Pip,
Gardner Sarah,
Gray Anne,
McLaren Alison,
Snell Lindsay,
Thackeray Eva,
Tocock Adam,
Young Gil
Publication year - 2022
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 - 10.1111/hir.12444
Subject(s) - medical education , presentation (obstetrics) , public relations , covid-19 , quality (philosophy) , session (web analytics) , psychology , world wide web , medicine , political science , computer science , philosophy , disease , epistemology , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , radiology
Background Responding to the COVID‐19 pandemic, Health Education England (HEE) mobilised a group of expert searchers from NHS libraries in England to develop a platform for librarians to share peer reviewed search strategies and results on the Knowledge for Healthcare website. Objectives (1) To document the origins of the COVID‐19 search bank, (2) evaluate attitudes of NHS librarians in England towards the search bank and (3) identify lessons learned and consider whether the initiative might be developed further. Methods Structured interviews with the peer reviewers ( n = 10) were conducted, and a questionnaire survey of the NHS library community using the search bank was undertaken. Results The interviews confirmed the value of collaboration. Expert searchers worked in pairs to peer review submitted search strategies. The survey (85 responses) indicated that a majority had used the search bank, and approved of the project, with some differences of opinion on functionality and future developments. Discussion Collaborative working for the search bank probably saved time for individual NHS librarians. The quality of the searches submitted was variable as were librarians' approaches to presentation and development of search strategies. Peer review benefits from a buddy approach among expert searchers and agreement about feedback provided to contributors. Conclusion Search strategies are the most useful element of a search bank. Peer review can be challenging and would benefit from a formal structure, but it is professionally rewarding.