A practical toolkit for clinicians to locate best evidence to improve patient outcomes

ID: 

138

Session: 

Poster session 1

Date: 

Sunday 16 September 2018 - 12:30 to 14:00

All authors in correct order:

Kendall S1, Ryu M1, Walsh C1
1 Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Canada
Presenting author and contact person

Presenting author:

Sandra Kendall

Contact person:

Sandra Kendall
Abstract text
Background:
Sinai Health System (SHS) is an internationally recognized academic health sciences centre affiliated with the University of Toronto. With more than 28,809 admissions a year, clinicians at SHS are often challenged with locating the best available published evidence at the time of need. An overwhelming number of electronic resources are available and this is coupled with long hours of clinical work, which includes clinicians working in multiple locations. Our library recognizes how staff may be prevented from easily and seamlessly seeking information in an efficient and timely manner.

Objective:
The goal is to provide a simple, practical teaching tool to help clinicians easily find quality health information from the vast offerings of publishers.

Methods:
The SHS Library has created a toolkit that groups electronic resources into tiers based on the hierarchy of evidence, using a step-by-step approach. The SHS Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) Resources Toolkit lists key electronic resources available through the library. Mobile application options are available for most of the resources.

Results:
Since its publication in 2008, the toolkit has received positive feedback from medical students and in-house clinical staff. In addition, the toolkit has been incorporated into the teachings of the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Ontario, the Ministry of Public Health, and various hospital and patient libraries across the Greater Toronto Area.

Conclusions:
The toolkit continues to add value to our hospital. The SHS Library encourages other libraries and institutions to adapt the toolkit for their users.

Patient and healthcare consumer involvement:
The updated toolkit has proven to be a useful navigation tool for our patients seeking quality health information for themselves and their families.

Attachments: 

PDF icon Kendall_2017...Evidence-based medicine resources toolkit revisited.pdf

Relevance to patients and consumers: 

Since 2008, the Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) Resources Toolkit has improved how Canadian clinicians seek high quality medical information for patient care decision making. The Toolkit adds value to healthcare consumers by demonstrating how to find best practice medical evidence. The Toolkit in practice organizes medical library electronic resources into the hierarchy of published evidence. Although at the early stages of roll out for patient use, Public Librarians appreciate our introduction of how to identify these resources for their role in answering the public’s consumer health questions.