Evaluating clinical librarian services: a systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences
• Information Science
• Medical Librarianship

Background:

• Previous reviews noted limited evidence and poor quality evaluations of clinical librarian (CL) services.
• A need exists for rigorous evaluations to demonstrate the value of CL services.
• Guidance is required to achieve robust evaluations of CL services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review models of CL services.
• To examine the quality and methods used in evaluating CL services.
• To explore perspectives on clinical librarian service evaluations.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review methodology was employed.
• Evidence synthesis was conducted collaboratively by a group of 8 librarians.
• The review aimed to develop research and critical appraisal skills.

Main Results:

• Four distinct models of clinical library service provision were identified.
• CL services effectively save health professionals time and provide high-quality, relevant information.
• CLs positively impact clinical decision-making, including diagnosis and treatment choices.
• While study quality is improving, further work is needed to reduce bias and demonstrate patient care impact.
• The Critical Incident Technique, within a mixed-methods approach, shows promise for impact demonstration.

Conclusions:

• This review offers practical guidance for evaluating CL services.
• Updated evidence supports the effectiveness and impact of CL services.
• The collaborative review process successfully enhanced librarians' research and appraisal skills.