East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine Library (ETSUQCOML) developed a training program to enable public libraries, public health workers, and rural hospital staff to be consumer health information providers. Four NN/LM-developed classes were taught to public libraries. Regional public library directors were invaluable in obtaining the concurrence of their boards for release time for class attendance. Classes were also developed for the public health workforce and rural hospital staff. Five-hundred thirty-three students attended the classes. Fifty-two public library workers will receive the MLA's Consumer Health Information Specialist certification. Thirty-one public libraries have joined NN/LM. All ordered MedlinePlus marketing materials for their libraries from InformationRx.org.

The PDA is an important technology in clinical medicine. Although PDAs are widely utilized by medical students and residents, older teaching faculty have not readily adopted them. The medical library can position itself as a leader in training patrons to use these devices. The East Tennessee State University (ETSU) Quillen College of Medicine Library (QCOML) staff trained older, experienced teaching faculty to use PDAs loaded with ePocrates and InfoRetriever databases. The training was rated highly and several faculty members became PDA users. The library is now considered the place to go on campus for PDA help.

A Cochrane review conducted a meta-analysis looking only at FOBT for colorectal cancer screening. This review, based on published and unpublished data from 5 controlled trials, demonstrated that 3-card home FOBT conferred a reduction in colorectal cancer mortality of 16% (relative risk [RR]=0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77-0.92) and a number needed to screen of 1173 (95% CI, 741-2807) to prevent 1 death from colon cancer over a 10-year period. If adjusted for adherence to screening, the reduction in mortality increased to 23% (RR=0.77; 95% CI, 0.57-0.89). In addition, long-term follow up of one of the RCTs in the review showed a continued reduction in colorectal cancer mortality of 34% (RR=0.66; 95% CI, 0.54-0.81) in subjects adhering to the FOBT screening protocol over a 13-year interval. Overall mortality did not differ between the screened and unscreened groups. A systematic review performed for the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) incorporated more recent data on colorectal cancer screening including colonoscopy. This review reached similar conclusions as above. This review also looked at office FOBT performed after digital rectal exam. It is important to note that a single office FOBT has a lower sensitivity than 3-card home FOBT and its effectiveness for reducing colorectal cancer mortality was unknown at the time of the systematic review. A subsequent 2005 Veterans Affairs prospective cohort study found that the sensitivity for detecting advanced neoplasia was only 4.9% for digital FOBT, and negative results did not decrease the likelihood of advanced neoplasia. The USPSTF review did not find any screening trials of colonoscopy but analyzed data from the National Polyp Study and a case-control study to draw its conclusions. The review reported an odds ratio for colorectal cancer mortality for patients who had colonoscopy to be 0.43 (95% CI, 0.30-63). The USPSTF review also looked at the sensitivity and adverse effects of FOBT compared to colonoscopy. One-time 3-card home FOBT had a sensitivity of 30% to 40% for detecting cancer. The sensitivity of one-time colonoscopy was difficult to determine since it was the criterion standard examination, but it was estimated to be greater than 90%, with a risk of perforation of 1/2000. The USPSTF review found both screening strategies cost-effective (<$30,000 per additional life-year gained) compared to no screening. FOBT had a cost per life-year saved of $5691 to $17,805 compared with $9038 to $22,012 for colonoscopy performed every 10 years.

Background: Prior work examining the association of maternal obesity and neonatal mortality indicate the presence of a positive relationship. However, regional evidence to provide insight on country-level heterogeneities within sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with nationally representative datasets are non-existent. Objective: We aimed to determine the relationship between maternal obesity and neonatal mortality at the country level in SSA countries. Moreover, we also estimate regional measures of association to complement previous findings. Methods: Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 34 SSA countries conducted from 2006–2016 were used for this study. After missing data (36.9% of cases) were addressed with multiple imputations, we identified a total of 175,860 women for the analysis. Complete case and multiply imputed datasets were analyzed individually with multilevel logistic regression models. Potential confounders adjusted for in the regression model included maternal age, level of educational attainment, area of residence, access to prenatal care, birth order and multiple birth (singleton vs twin birth). Regional and country-specific associations were computed, and unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs), along with the confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Findings: Of the total study population, 8,451 (7.6%) were obese. In the regional level analyses, maternal obesity was associated with 40% increased odds of neonatal deaths. This finding was consistent in subgroup analyses by urban and rural residence, and geographic region of residence in SSA. Additionally, obese women were more likely to report neonatal death in the first week of life (OR, days 0–1: 1.39, 95% CI 1.15–1.69; OR, days 2–6: 1.35, 95% CI 1.02–1.79). In the individual country analyses, majority of the countries studied had central estimates supporting elevated odds of neonatal mortality, but the confidence intervals were imprecise. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential burden of neonatal mortality borne by obese women in SSA. There is, however, a need for longitudinal studies to confirm the results.

Book Summary The book takes an open and encompassing approach to exploring evidence based library and information practice (EBLIP) and the ways it can improve the practice of librarianship. Bringing together recent theory, research, and case studies, it provides librarians with a new reference point for how they can use and create evidence within their practice, in order to better meet the needs of their communities. Being Evidence Based in Library and Information Practice is divided into two parts; in the first part the editors explore the background to EBLIP and put forward a new model for its application in the workplace which encompasses five elements: Articulate, Assemble, Assess, Agree, Adapt. In the second part, contributors from academic, public, health, school, and special libraries from around the world provide an overview of EBLIP developments and offer examples of successful implementation. Essential reading for library and information professionals from all types of institutions who want to make more informed decisions and better meet the needs of their users, this book will also be of interest to students of library and information studies and researchers.

Objectives: The study examines how Loansome Doc services are implemented and used by libraries in the Southeast Region and describe end users' experiences with and attitudes toward Loansome Doc. Methods: 251 active DOCLINE libraries and 867 Loansome Doc users were surveyed. Results: Roughly one half of the libraries offered Loansome Doc services. Of those that did not, most indicated no plans to offer it in the future. The majority had a small number of end users and experienced minimal increases in interlibrary loan activity. Problems were relatively rare. Satisfaction with Loansome Doc was high among all types of libraries. End users were usually physicians or other health care professionals who requested articles for research and patient care. Most learned about Loansome Doc through PubMed or Internet Grateful Med. End users appeared to be largely self-taught or received informal instruction in Loansome Doc. Loansome Doc filled document requests in a timely manner, and end users reported being satisfied with the service. Conclusions: Greater promotion of what Loansome Doc is and how it can benefit libraries can increase the number of participating libraries. While satisfaction of Loansome Doc end users is high, satisfaction could be increased with more help on the PubMed screen, more library training, and faster delivery methods.

No description available.

Objectives: The library has developed a monthly librarian journal club to foster professional development and critical thinking. The purpose of this study is to quantitatively analyze the subject domains of the articles (reference; education; collections; management; information access/retrieval; marketing/promotion); journals most frequently read; and what methodologies were most frequently used in the articles and to qualitatively analyze the value of the journal club to the growth of librarians involved and the value to the library through the evidence discovered. Methods: Librarians meet monthly at a restaurant for journal club. Each attendee reports on an article of their choice from the library literature. Each participant is given ten minutes to report. A discussion follow. After journal club, each attendee writes a report on their article in a structured abstract format (practice question, article title, citation, study type, answer). These summaries are critically appraised topics (CATs) and are saved in a CAT bank called CATTales. Over 100 CATs have been entered into the CATTales database. Results: The result of CATTALEs is the creation of a searchable evidence based librarianship database. Examples of the journal club’s impact are the development of bookmarks for basic science researchers, the undertaking of a content analysis on the future librarianship, and the revamping of a reference statistics program. Young librarians have developed skills in reading the literature, translating research into practice, and learning new research concepts. Conclusions: Many ideas have sprung from these monthly meetings. Librarians have gained validation for practices already in place and started new initiatives in education, promotion and research on ideas based on journal club discussions. This project has promoted interest in reading the journal literature and encouraged librarians to keep current. A tool like a medical librarian journal club is a practical way to practice evidence based librarianship.

No description available.

Question: How have the emergent themes of a health sciences library group changed over time? Setting: A state level health sciences library group Participants: Membership of a state health sciences library group over a 30 year period. Methods: A content analysis of the group archives will be conducted using NVIVO software. Main Findings: Themes and patterns from content analysis will be used to describe changes over time. Conclusions: Forthcoming.