Addressing Disparities in Physician Access to Information in Support of Evidence-based Practice.

The purpose of this study is to determine if Minnesota physicians have access to information resources needed to support evidence-based practice (EBP), which supports a culture of safety and patient-centered care. A survey was used to determine Minnesota physicians' need for, and access to, evidence-based clinical information. A total of 877 responses (6.4% response rate) were included in the data analysis. Participants spent 24 min daily seeking answers to clinical questions and averaged 4.41 questions per day that could not be immediately answered. Physicians reported high levels of information needs met (85.8%), though they reported limited access to drug resources, citation databases, systematic reviews, and full-text books and articles. Results also showed use of unreliable sources to support decision-making. A key finding was the extent to which workplace affiliation broadens disparities in information access. National and regional approaches can work to support EBP by reducing the information gap caused by workplace affiliation and other barriers. Further research should be done to identify partnerships, funding, infrastructure, and support to address these gaps.

Health literacy for older adults: using evidence to build a model educational program.

HeLP MN Seniors was a pilot program aimed at developing an evidence-based educational program to improve health literacy/health information literacy skills in older adults. A two-part workshop series was created and a pilot test was conducted with residents of a senior living community. After attending the pilot workshops, older adults reported that they used several workshop tools and tips, were more empowered to ask questions, and were more successful in finding online health information. Based upon evidence gathered through formal program evaluation, the pilot curriculum was further customized and developed into a model educational program that has been made available for use by others.

A case study: planning a statewide information resource for health professionals: an evidence-based approach.

QUESTION: What is the best approach for implementing a statewide electronic health library (eHL) to serve all health professionals in Minnesota? SETTING: The research took place at the University of Minnesota Health Sciences Libraries. METHODS: In January 2008, the authors began planning a statewide eHL for health professionals following the five-step process for evidence-based librarianship: formulating the question, finding the best evidence, appraising the evidence, assessing costs and benefits, and evaluating the effectiveness of resulting actions. MAIN RESULTS: The authors identified best practices for developing a statewide eHL for health professionals relating to audience or population served, information resources, technology and access, funding model, and implementation and sustainability. They were compared to the mission of the eHL project to drive strategic directions by developing recommendations. CONCLUSION: EBL can guide the planning process for a statewide eHL, but findings must be tailored to the local environment to address information needs and ensure long-term sustainability.