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"Mini-Medical School for Librarians": from needs assessment to educational outcomes.
Kathel Dunn1, Suzanne J Crow, T Guillaume Van Moorsel
1Ehrman Medical Library, New York University Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016, USA. dunn@library.med.nyu.edu
Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA
|April 26, 2006
Summary
This continuing education symposium significantly boosted medical librarians' confidence in understanding medicine. While confidence slightly dipped post-symposium, long-term self-assessment remained positive, though application of knowledge varied.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Information Science
Background:
- Continuing education symposiums are crucial for professional development.
- Medical librarians require specialized knowledge of medicine and medical education.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the "Mini-Medical School for Librarians" symposium.
- To assess the impact of the "Medical School Experience" on librarians' understanding of medicine.
Main Methods:
- The study involved 58 medical librarians and information professionals.
- Pre-, post-, and six-month follow-up surveys measured self-assessed confidence.
- Learning action plans documented intended versus actual application of course content.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in self-assessed confidence was observed immediately after the symposium.
- Longitudinal analysis showed a sustained positive impact on confidence six months later.
- A discrepancy was noted between planned and actual use of learned information in professional settings.
Conclusions:
- Continuing education programs enhance medical librarians' understanding of medicine.
- Such programs are valuable for both novice and mid-career professionals.
- Effective knowledge transfer and application remain key areas for development.