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Learning resource needs of UK NHS support staff.
Anne Devaney1, Helen Outhwaite
1Postgraduate Medical Centre, York Hospital, York, UK. anne.devaney@york.nhs.uk
Health Information and Libraries Journal
|November 19, 2005
Summary
Support staff at York Hospital need better communication regarding library resources and training. Addressing their learning needs, including essential skills and information technology (IT) access, is crucial for their development.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Information Science
- Workforce Development
Background:
- Research conducted at York Hospital focused on the learning resource needs of support staff.
- Identified a gap in understanding the experiences of this often-overlooked employee group.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the learning resource needs and experiences of support staff.
- To identify barriers to accessing information and training.
- To assess essential skill levels within the support staff demographic.
Main Methods:
- Employed qualitative methods, including focus groups and one-to-one interviews.
- Utilized a literacy and numeracy test to gauge essential skill levels.
Main Results:
- Highlighted a need for improved communication about library services, training, and IT access.
- Confirmed the necessity of expanding library resources tailored for support staff.
- Revealed a lack of essential skills resources and awareness within the organization.
Conclusions:
- Support staff learning needs require sensitive handling due to past negative experiences.
- Limited access to computers and information technology (IT) training influences communication preferences.
- Further initiatives are required to address essential skills development for all staff members.