GRATEFUL MED searching: a hospital library perspective

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences Information Management
• Medical Library Services
• End-User Information Retrieval

Background:

• The Health Sciences Information Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center sought to enhance end-user access to information.
• Implementation of National Library of Medicine's (NLM) GRATEFUL MED software was initiated.
• A structured training approach was deemed necessary for effective software utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation of an end-user information retrieval service.
• To detail the teaching strategies employed in a librarian-taught seminar for GRATEFUL MED software.
• To evaluate user satisfaction and identify areas for improvement through a survey.

Main Methods:

• An end-user search service was established utilizing GRATEFUL MED software.
• A mandatory librarian-taught seminar was developed and delivered to all end users.
• A user survey was conducted to gather feedback on the service and training.

Main Results:

• The seminar effectively prepared end users to utilize the GRATEFUL MED software.
• User feedback indicated a positive reception to the training and service.
• Specific teaching strategies were identified as particularly beneficial.

Conclusions:

• Librarian-led training is crucial for successful implementation of information retrieval tools.
• End-user education significantly improves the utilization of specialized medical databases.
• The GRATEFUL MED service, supported by training, enhanced information access for healthcare professionals.