Research Abstract Example (non-blinded)
Title: Information Needs of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants: Implications for Health Science Librarians
Author(s)Affiliation(s): Paul Gorman, Joan Ash, Oregon Health Science University and Susan Poulsen, Portland State University.
Purpose: Describe the information needs of primary care nurse practitioners and physician assistants; compare to the information needs of physicians.
Setting/subjects: Ambulatory primary care practices in rural and nonrural Oregon. Nurse practitioners (42), physician assistants (22), and physicians (39).
Methodology: Observational study using paired, semi-structured interviews.
Results: During 103 half-day inteviews, clinicians caring for 842 patients articulated 645 questions. Of these, they pursued 275, found answers to 215, and reported an impact on the patient for 193. Over 40% of questions were pursued immediat ely. Most answers came from a single source (164 questions). There were no significant differences among clinician types for these variables. Answers to most questions came from human sources (109) or readily available printed matter (83). Organizational and institutional sources were consulted for 25 questions, more often by NPs and PAs. Libraries and digital media were rarely consulted (3 and 7 questions respectively), more often by MDs/DOs. Most questions concerned treatment, but NP and PA questions more often concerned multiple issues, including pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic testing. The type of information most often needed was medical knowledge, but NPs and PAs more often required patient data, logistic information, and information about peer practices. Most questions required only simple facts, but NPs and PAs more often requested higher-level responses, including analysis, synthesis, and judgment.
Discussion/conclusion: Primary care clinicians were quite similar in the frequency of clinical questions and in their information seeking patterns. Based on their own judgments about their questions, nurse practitioners and physician assistant s had broader medical knowledge needs, more frequent need for logistic and peer practice information, and more frequent need for higher-level responses, including analysis, synthesis, and judgment.
Project Abstract Example (non-blinded)
Title: A Virtual Site Walk: Using the Web to Showcase the Construction of a New Library
Author(s)/Affiliation: M.J. Tooey, Associate Director for External Services and Development and Project Manager; Patricia G. Hinegardner, Information Specialist; Matthew A. Miller, Web Technician, Health Sciences Library, University of Maryland at Baltimore, 111 S. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201
Purpose: This paper will report on the use of the Web to showcase the construction of a new health sciences library. Other potential uses for this site will also be discussed.
Setting/Participants/Resources: The Health Sciences Library, University of Maryland is a large, academic health sciences library in an urban setting. Within the last year the library launched its home page. One of the main features of the site is an area devoted to tracking and showcasing the construction of the new library to be completed and occupied in early 1998.
Brief Description: The development of the library's home page dovetailed with the beginning of it's construction project. It seemed natural to include details about the new building on the library Web site. In addition to charting the project, the Web site will be used for promotional and fund raising activities. New improvements and uses for the site are being explored. Issues to be addressed include: the purpose and planning of the project, development and maintenance of the project, archiv ing, and post construction growth and development.
Results/Outcome: This ongoing project has attracted interest from local, national, and international constituents. New features have been added and the site is constantly updated.
Evaluation Method: Through a gate counter feature and an email comments box, we are monitoring user satisfaction. Anecdotally, we have received favorable comments from construction, architectural, and constituent groups concerning our innovative use of the technology.