Learning while doing: program evaluation of the Medical Library Association Systematic Review Project
Catherine Boden1, Marie T Ascher2, Jonathan D Eldredge3
1Associate Librarian, Leslie and Irene Dube Health Sciences Library, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA
|July 3, 2018
Summary
The Medical Library Association (MLA) Systematic Review Project successfully used a volunteer model to answer key professional questions, highlighting its value for skill development and future research. This approach shows promise for advancing health sciences librarianship.
Area of Science:
- Health Sciences Librarianship
- Information Science
- Knowledge Management
Background:
- The Medical Library Association (MLA) initiated a large-scale project in 2013.
- Fifteen volunteer-driven teams were formed to conduct systematic reviews.
- The project aimed to address top-ranked questions within the profession.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the experiences of participants in the MLA Systematic Review Project.
- To assess the effectiveness of a volunteer-driven model for systematic reviews.
- To identify successes, challenges, and lessons learned for future endeavors.
Main Methods:
- A program evaluation was conducted using an 11-item online survey.
- Survey respondents included team leaders and members of the systematic review teams.
- Data collection occurred over a two-week period in early 2016.
Main Results:
- 84% of respondents favored repeating the MLA Systematic Review Project.
- Outputs included publications, presentations, and social media sharing.
- Thematic analysis revealed key themes: learning, networking, teamwork, outcomes, and barriers.
Conclusions:
- A volunteer-driven systematic review approach is a viable model for addressing professional questions.
- The project demonstrated significant value for experiential learning in synthesis review skills.
- Recommendations are provided to optimize this model for future applications.
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