Do clinical staff and managers in an academic

teaching hospital use library services and the published literature in

their working lives?

Anne Murphy BA DLIS MScHead Librarian, Tallaght Hospital

4th QQML Conference, 22nd-25th May 2012, Limerick

Tallaght Hospital, Dublin

Tallaght Hospital Library

We provide 2,500 staff with access to the knowledge base of health care to support them in their work

Overview

• Data sources• Library Services• Access to the

Published Literature

• Conclusions

Three Sources of Data• Statistics

2005-2011 Document Supply

• Two Surveys March 2010, Library Ireland WeekNovember 2010Use of library services and

the published literature

Use of Library Services March 2010 Survey

20%

17%

16%12%

10%

9%

7%

5% 4% Online Journals

Online Databases

Book Borrowing

Print Journals

Reading / Study Place

Interlibrary Loan / DocumentSupplyReference and Enquiry /Library Staff AdviceMedline training

Access to the Internet onPCs in the Library

Use of Library ServicesNovember 2010 Survey

29%

21%18%

16%

10%

6% Online journals

Print journals

Online databases

Interlibrary Loan

Reference and Enquiry /Library Staff advice

Access to AMNCH Libraryonline on the PCs in theLibrary

Use of Library Services Comparison: Doctors & Managers

0

20

40

60

80

100

Onlinejournals

Printjournals

Onlinedatabases

InterlibraryLoan

Referenceand

Enquiry /Library

Staffadvice

Access toTallaghtLibrary

online onthe PCs inthe Library

Doctors

Managers

Use of Library Services Comparison of the 2 Surveys

0

10

20

30

40

OnlineJournals

PrintJournals

OnlineDatabases

DocumentSupply

Reference& Enquiry

PCs in theLibrary

Other

Mar-10

Nov-10

Document Supply Use 2005-2011

31%

18%

1%0%

50%

Direct patient care

Teaching

Learning

Research

Hospital Work,Other

Document Supply Use Hospital Work, Other

28%

20%

18%

16%

9%

7% 2% Research to improveexisting serviceReport Writing

Quality Improvement

Researching servicedevelopmentDepartment generatedin-serviceAudit

Policy Development

Information-seeking Reasons March 2010

20%

26%

10%3%

41%

Evidence basedpractice

Teaching

Learning

Research

Hospital Work,Other

Published Literature UseNov 2010 Survey

34%

28%

15%

3%

20% Evidence-basedpractice

Teaching

Learning

Research

Hospital Work,Other

Published Literature UseComparison of the Two Surveys

0

10

20

30

40

50

Evidence-based

Practice

Teaching Learning Research HospitalWork

Mar-10

Nov-10

Published Literature UseDoctors

19%

18%

14%12%

11%

11%

9%6%

Treatment

Latest research on aspecific topicNew information in adisease areaSpecific patient problem

Diagnosis

Drug information

New therapy / productinformationPrognosis

Published Literature UseFrequency of use for patient care

35%

31%

17%

5%2%

6%4%

0-1 per week

2-3 per week

4-5 per week

6-7 per week

8-9 per week

10 or more per week

Non-responder

Conclusions

• Clinical staff and managers use library services and the published literature for – Evidence-based practice– Hospital work– Teaching– Learning– Research