Transforming library services to health students: dissemination case study +

1. Transforming library services to health students: dissemination case study + What gets published and why: a HILJ perspective Dr Graham Walton, Service Development Manager, Library, Loughborough University and Editor, Health Information and Libraries Journal (HILJ) Transforming health information services: CILIPS Annual Conference: Peebles Hydro, 4th June 2008

2. Content of presentation • Take a case study of a project in health information provision, the project’s dissemination and some observations • Using HILJ downloads data, examine in more detail what makes a popular article • From my perspective as Editor of HILJ, explore what makes a ‘good’ paper

3. Two perspectives on innovation 1) Starting point of innovation is kind of dissatisfaction: personal level, managerial level and strategic level 2) Innovation is ‘effort to create purposeful, focused change …’ (Drucker)

4. Case study: “Health and Education Northumbria students access to Learning resources (HENSAL)” project (2002) • Innovative because first project that looked at pre-registration health students use of learning resources when on clinical placement • Study completed by Information Management Research Institute at Northumbria University • Explored education students as well • 415 returned questionnaires • Asked students to focus on last clinical placement and reflect on aspects of using learning resources

5. “Knowledge is one of the few materials that gains value if you share it” Philippe Blanchard, Director of Information and Knowledge Management of International Olympic Committee (IOC) (2008)

6. Approaches to dissemination of HENSAL findings • Presentation given at Faculty Board and used as basis for discussions between NHS and HE Librarians • Middleton, A. et al (2002) Health and education Northumbria students access to learning resources (HENSAL project), IMRI, Northumbria University. • Middleton, A. (2003) HENSAL project, Second International Conference on Information and IT Literacy (eLit) Glasgow Caledonian University • Used as case study in Peacock, D. Role of LIS in supporting learning In Walton, G. and Booth, A. (jt. Eds) (2004) Exploiting knowledge in health services, Facet Press • Chapter was read by Iain Baird at Teesside University which resulted in the THESAL project…..

7. Teesside health students acres to Learning Resources whilst on placement, County Durham and Tees Valley NHS Strategic Health Authority : THESAL project • Funded by County Durham and Tees Valley Workforce Development Confederation • Research undertaken by Information Management Research Institute at Northumbria University • 338 returned questionnaires received • Work completed in 2004

8. Dissemination of THESAL project • Baird, I. , Blenkinsopp, J. and Dobbins, S. (2005) THESAL Teesside health students acres to Learning Resources whilst on placement, County Durham and Tees Valley NHS Strategic Health Authority • http://lis.tees.ac.uk/research/THESAL.pdf • Baird, I. et al (2006) Exploring health pre-registration students use of learning resources whilst on clinical placement: replication of case study at Northumbria and Teesside Universities, UK. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 23, pp.283–297 • Presentation at Faculty Research day • Report read by Liz Mailer at St. Martin’s College which resulted in the SMARTAL project….

9. St MARTin’s College health students Access to Learning resources whilst on placement, Library Services, St Martin’s College 2005: The SMARTAL Project: • Used same methodology as that used for HENSAL • c 250 returned questionnaires • Ran from December 2004 to March 2005 • Research undertaken by member of St Martin’s College (how University of Cumbria) Library staff on secondment

10. Dissemination of SMARTAL project • Mailer, L. (2005) The SMARTAL Project: St MARTin’s College health students Access to Learning resources whilst on placement, Library Services, St Martin’s College • http://www.cumbria.ac.uk/Services/lis/aboutlis/research/smartalreport.pdf • Mailer, L. (2005) SMARTAL project, poster at Evidence Based Librarianship Conference , Brisbane, Australia, 16th October. • Mailer, L. (2005) SMARTAL project, poster at CILIP Umbrella Conference, Manchester, 30th June. • Mailer, L. (2006) St MARTin's College health students Access to Learning resources whilst on placementHealth Information and Libraries Journal Vol. 23 (2) ; pp 110-117 • Mailer, L (2006) The SMARTAL project, UMSLG Open Forum, Woburn House, London, 24th March • Report read by Sally Brockway at Cardiff University which resulted in her dissertation…..

11. “Allied health students' access to university-based learning resources whilst on placement” • Dissertation done by Sally Brockway for MA in Library and Information Science, Aberystwyth University • Based in School of Healthcare at Cardiff University • Work done between 2007 and 2008 • Questionnaire was based on the Hensal report • looked solely at an Allied Health population (which excluded Nursing and Midwifery students) • focussed on these students' access to university based learning resources only,

12. Common findings across HENSAL, SMARTAL, THENSAL and Masters dissertation • When on clinical placement students: • state that access to resources is important • used a wide range of print and electronic resources • have a low level of awareness of what is available • experience problems in accessing pc • see their mentor is being more important than library or academic staff on advising about learning resources • difficulties in accessing learning resources include lack of time, distance from libraries and libraries’ opening hours

13. Outcomes of disseminated projects • Lead to improved communication between Library and academics and between HE and NHS libraries • Raised profile of Library • Provided focus for timely information literacy with health students • Developed body of evidence for wider community • Opened up opportunities for individuals involved with the projects • Projects succeeded despite dodgy acronyms!!!! 

15. What are features of articles that are downloaded the most? • Reviews ensure readers can gain a comprehensive overview quickly • Topics are chosen that are central to current agendas • Articles that address changing roles and opportunities • Practitioners value articles that are practical and help them develop their skills and knowledge

16. Tips on producing a quality paper for consideration for publishing: a personal perspective • Transparent, clear structure • Case study must not be ‘how we did it good’ • Clear, succinct title • Charts/ diagrams rather than tables • Obvious what it brings that is new

17. Tips on producing a quality paper for consideration for publishing: a personal perspective 6. Follows the journal’s style recommendations 7. Accurately and effectively describe context 8. Sticks to word allocation 9. Don't take 200 words to say something when 50 will do 10. Jargon is minimised

18. Concluding observations on considering case study and dissemination • Project is not worthwhile if report goes no further than Library office • Need to build in dissemination from beginning of project • By being strategic and focussed, it is easier to come up with well received and popular paper • Work can be cut down by ensuring journal’s Editor has as few a reasons as possible to turn down paper