1. Establishing, Marketing, and Expanding a Fee-based Systematic Review Information Service
Amy Knehans, MLIS, AHIP, Clinical Outreach Liaison and Instruction Librarian, Penn State College of Medicine.
Esther Dell, AMLS, AHIP, Interlibrary Loan Librarian, Penn State College of Medicine.
Objective
To describe one library’s experience in establishing, introducing and promoting a new fee-based systematic review service that follows the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended standards for performing systematic reviews.
Results
Since launching the service in October 2013, we educated 48 people, provided 10 consultations, and collaborated on 3 scoping reviews, 1 systematic review and 2 grants that included systematic review.
Methods
The Library began to receive an increased number of requests for assistance in initiating systematic reviews. The need to provide this type of research prompted the library to explore a fee-based systematic review service. Establishing a service has a dual purpose: firstly to educate the community about systematic reviews and secondly, to work with patrons who are serious about completing a project that requires a high-level overview of the primary research on a specific topic.
The library determined that a defined program is necessary for the service since working on this type of research project involves an extraordinary number of hours of searching and recording, a time commitment that goes beyond the traditional information services. It is further necessary given the size of the small staff and the impact of the workload.
We investigated how other libraries were supporting systematic reviews, gathered information and created a LibGuide. On a regular basis we provide workshops and heavily market the new service.
Conclusions
The educational sessions provided an opportunity to clarify the requirements of a formal IOM-compliant systematic review project. Numerous participants realized that their intended project was ultimately not a systematic review, due to the necessary time and financial commitments. Others received guidance that informed their subsequent decision to proceed with preparing grant applications that would fund the costs of their projects. It was an initial dialog that was needed.