development of a gp “specialist e-library” within the nhs scotland e-library knowledge services...

Development of a GP “Specialist e-Library” within the NHS Scotland e-Library

Knowledge Services Group

Zena Mulligan (Information Manager)

Background

Policy drive towards primary-care led health service GPs currently amongst the lowest users of NHS

Scotland e-Library The literature and informal feedback have identified

a number of barriers to actively seeking answers to clinical questions and using the e-Library, e.g. Lack of time Lack of instant, ready access to bottom-line answers,

i.e. pre-digested information that does not require interpretation or appraisal

e-Library interface perceived as too complicated and too much effort required to filter out relevant information

Timescale

Phase 1 (July 2005 – March 2006): Requirements analysis and development of specialist e-Library

Phase 2 (April – October 2006): Implementation Phase 3 (October – December 2006): Evaluation

Phase 1: Methodology

Literature review Virtual reference group Observation Focus Group Interviews Questionnaires

Virtual Reference Group

Dr Murray Lough (NES: Assistant Director of GP Section, West of Scotland Region and practising GP)

Dr Tim Jones (NES: Associate GP Advisor and practising GP) Dr Jean Robson (NES: GP Principal; GP Appraiser; Associate

GP Advisor, West of Scotland Region and practising GP) Dr Peter McCalister (NES: Associate GP Advisor for CPD and

practising GP) Dr Paul Green (NES: Associate GP Advisor and practising GP) Dr Gordon McLeay (NES: Assistant Director and practising GP)

Observing Practice

High number of clinical queries Drug related queries most common Lack of time major barrier to searching for

information Reliance on colleagues as quick sources of

information Need for quick access to a small number of

resources for answering clinical queries and providing patient information

Focus Group

Too much information presented on e-Library Useful to have results ranked by relevance Expectation is that e-Library search is on content of

resources Guidelines are key resources for GPs Help and support Passwords are a barrier to access

Interviews & Questionnaires

In-depth interviews with 5 GPs Email survey of GP Trainers in North of Scotland Postal survey of GP Trainers in West of Scotland Followed up with an email reminder 52% response rate from 133 questionnaires sent

out

Summary of findings

Information needs Core resources Characteristics of GP “Specialist e-Library”

Purposes for seeking information

Answering clinical enquiries

Keeping up to date

Patient enquries/education

Research

Training or mentoring

CPD

Answering clinical enquiries

Keeping up to date

Patient enquries/education

Research

Training or mentoring

CPD

Popular ResourcesUsefulness of resources

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Rank 1

Rank 2

Rank 3

Summary of Findings

Information need Core resources Characteristics of GP “Specialist e-Library”

• Speed• Simplicity• Powerful Google style searching• Resources organised by type and common condition,

e.g. guidelines, patient information, evidence based• Clinical Query Answering Service

Thank you!

Any queries, comments or suggestions please contact

Zena.Mulligan@nes.scot.nhs.uk