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Just-in-time information improved decision-making in primary care: a randomized controlled trial
Jessie McGowan1, William Hogg, Craig Campbell
1Faculty of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. jmcgowan@uottawa.ca
Plos One
|November 22, 2008
Summary
Just-in-time Information (JIT) librarian services significantly improved clinical decision-making and satisfaction for primary care professionals. This rapid information access potentially increases patient access to care and reduces healthcare costs.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Primary Care Research
Background:
- The Just-in-time Information (JIT) librarian consultation service was developed to deliver prompt information for clinical questions during patient encounters.
- This study aimed to assess the impact of librarian-provided information on time, decision-making, cost savings, and user satisfaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a JIT librarian service in supporting primary care clinical decision-making.
- To measure the impact of rapid information retrieval on healthcare professionals' time, decision quality, and patient care.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 88 participants who submitted 1,889 clinical questions.
- Questions were randomized to either librarian intervention or control (no librarian).
- Impact and satisfaction were assessed via surveys 24 hours post-submission.
Main Results:
- Librarians responded to questions in an average of 13.68 minutes, compared to 20.29 minutes for self-answered control questions.
- 62.9% of librarian-provided information was rated as having a highly positive cognitive impact.
- 86% of participants reported a positive impact on care, and 72% would use the service frequently.
Conclusions:
- Timely information from librarians positively impacts clinical decision-making and garners high user satisfaction.
- Utilizing librarian services may free up primary care professionals' time, potentially enhancing patient access to care.
- These services may lead to cost reductions by minimizing unnecessary referrals and further medical interventions.
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