Library and information services: impact on patient care quality. Issue 8 (7th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gard Marshall, Joanne; Craft Morgan, Jennifer; A. Thompson, Cheryl; L. Wells, Amber
• Is Part Of: International journal of health care quality assurance. Volume 27:Issue 8(2014)
• Page Start: 672
• Page End: 683
• Publication Date: 2014-10-07
• Subjects: Medical care -- Quality control -- Periodicals; 362.1068
• DOI: 10.1108/IJHCQA-10-2013-0119
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-6862

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Purpose</title> <p> – The purpose of this paper is to explore library and information service impact on patient care quality. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Design/methodology/approach</title> <p> – 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. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Findings</title> <p> – 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. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Originality/value</title> <p> – Electronic collections and services provided by the library and the librarian contribute to patient care quality.</p> </sec> </abstract>