The notion that libraries are integral to evidence-based decision-making for health care professionals is well worth emphasizing. Librarians have tremendous expertise in searching the literature, devising and refining search strategies, and pinpointing the evidence, activities that usually involve the use of modern information and communication technologies, such as those we described.1 Physicians and, for that matter, all health care professionals, can benefit from librarians' expertise and from their coaching as they acquire these important skills themselves.
The Division of Continuing Medical Education within the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine has been offering workshops to help physicians in using the Internet for evidence-based medicine, and librarians have been members of the workshop faculty since the inception of these courses. Similar approaches are being used across Canada and internationally.2 An even more interesting model is the integration of librarians or information specialists into the clinical setting for team-based practice and learning.3
Kendall Ho Division of Continuing Medical Education Faculty of Medicine University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC
References
- 1.Ho K, Chockalingam A, Best A, Walsh G. Technology-enabled knowledge translation: building a framework for collaboration [editorial]. CMAJ 2003;168(6):710-1. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
- 2.Dorsch JL, Jacobson S, Scherrer CS. Teaching EBM teachers: a team approach. Med Ref Serv Q 2003;22(2):107-14. [DOI] [PubMed]
- 3.Florance V, Giuse NB, Ketchell DS. Information in context: integrating information specialists into practice settings. J Med Libr Assoc 2002; 90 (1):49-58. [PMC free article] [PubMed]