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  survey of GP Trainers in North of Scotland  Postal survey of GP Trainers in West of Scotland  Followed up with an 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

Popular Resources

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

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