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Library and information services: impact on patient care quality.
- Source :
-
International journal of health care quality assurance [Int J Health Care Qual Assur] 2014; Vol. 27 (8), pp. 672-83. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore library and information service impact on patient care quality.<br />Design/methodology/approach: A large-scale critical incident survey of physicians and residents at 56 library sites serving 118 hospitals in the USA and Canada. Respondents were asked to base their answers on a recent incident in which they had used library resources to search for information related to a specific clinical case.<br />Findings: Of 4,520 respondents, 75 percent said that they definitely or probably handled patient care differently using information obtained through the library. In a multivariate analysis, three summary clinical outcome measures were used as value and impact indicators: first, time saved; second, patient care changes; and third, adverse events avoided. The outcomes were examined in relation to four information access methods: first, asking librarian for assistance; second, performing search in a physical library; third, searching library's web site; or fourth, searching library resources on an institutional intranet. All library access methods had consistently positive relationships with the clinical outcomes, providing evidence that library services have a positive impact on patient care quality.<br />Originality/value: Electronic collections and services provided by the library and the librarian contribute to patient care quality.
- Subjects :
- Canada
Evidence-Based Medicine
Hospital Bed Capacity
Humans
Library Services statistics & numerical data
Medical Errors prevention & control
Time Factors
United States
Information Services statistics & numerical data
Patient Care methods
Quality of Health Care organization & administration
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0952-6862
- Volume :
- 27
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- International journal of health care quality assurance
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25417373
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa-10-2013-0119