keepuptodate_2012
TRANSCRIPT
Keep Up to Date ! Allison BellGerstein Science Library
March 29, 2012
Practical methods for LLL
Good current awareness programs are:
• Efficient, preferably AUTOMATED “Set it and forget it”
• Focused on your highest priorities
• Manageable (you can make time to read what arrives)
Develop a Current Awareness Program
1. Set Goals
2. Choose Activities
3. Evaluate Success
4. Re-tool if necessary
First: Set Goals• What news do I need to hear to do my job
properly?
• What news do I need to hear to keep up to date with my professional development?
• Identify knowledge gaps
• Passionate interests
Think of some current awareness goals for
yourself. What are they?
Consider Type of Info.
• Guidelines, best practices
• Systematic reviews
• Synopses
• Articles
More Synthesized
Less Synthesized
Second: Develop Activities
• Browser ‘Favourites’ or Bookmarks
• RSS
• Email Alerts
• TOC Alerts
Turn Each Goal into Activity
Example: • GOAL: Read everything new that comes out
about the Gardasil vaccine
• ACTIVITY: Set up an automated search or RSS feed in Pubmed for any new articles on the Gardasil/HPV vaccine
Key to Success:Make time in your schedule!
Third: Evaluate Effectiveness
• Too much? Too little? Bad/no results?
• Missing anything?
• Adjust, then try again
RSS Feed Readers
• Google Reader• Bloglines• IE or Outlook• FeedReader
Choose one that you find easy to use, easy to remember
Add RSS Feeds
Why set up RSS readers?
Maintain anonymityThey have your email address!
1-click “mark as read” = never see them again
Have to delete unwanted emails
Leave your email for real people
Clogs your inbox
Unsubscribe in one clickUnsubscribe requests may be ignored/delayed
RSSEmail
• @CochraneCollab
• @CDCemergency
• @CDCgov
• @gersteinlibrary
Automated Searches
• Perform search• Look for ‘Save Search’ button
Keep Current Using Pubmed
• RSS or Automated Searches
• Clinical Queries (for evidence based results)
• Regular Pubmed search (for all results)
Automated Searches Using Clinical Queries
Create RSS feed or Save Search
Email Alerts: Pubmed
Change the:
•frequency, •day of the week•format of delivery
to suit your preferences.
Your email address here…
TOC alerts
• Can be via email or RSS depending on the journal.
• You do not need to subscribe to the journal
“Each feed lists the contents of the latest issue, with article summaries”
TOCs through RSS
Keeping Current: Where to Start?
• Canadian Journal of Public Health
• American Journal of Epidemiology
• American Journal of Public Health
• Health Affairs
• Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP)
More titles in the Public Health Research Guide:
http://guides.library.utoronto.ca/publichealth
Be Picky when Picking Sources
Pick professional sources for….
• Reliability (both content AND schedule)
• Can it deliver in a set-and-forget mode?
• Relevance to your learning GOALS
What about your clients?
Some considerations:
• Pick patient information sources for…
– Quality (reflect latest/best knowledge)
– Readability (consider levels, language)
– Usability/learning styles (Interactive? Print?)
Critical Evaluation of Web Sources
• More advertising= be more wary!– Pop ups? ‘Scam’ Ads?
• Statements of responsibility, credentials
• Quality of content, interface
• How current?
• Personal information collected/used?
Free Consumer Health Sources
• http://medlineplus.gov/
• Toronto Public Library Health Information: http://chis.wikidot.com/
Questions?