Abstract
IntroductionFinding efficient ways to meet the growing demand for library systematic review support is imperative for facilitating the production of high-quality research. The objectives of this study were threefold: 1) to ascertain the systematic review support provided by health sciences libraries at Ontario medical schools and their affiliated hospitals, 2) to determine the perceived educational needs by researchers at these institutions, and 3) to assess the potential usefulness of freely available, online educational modules for researchers that discuss all stages of the systematic review process.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey in June and July of 2020. Data was analyzed and presented using median and interquartile range (IQR) for continuous measures, and in proportions for categorical measures.Results13 of 19 libraries invited provided usable data. Most libraries spent more time supporting systematic reviews via collaboration and participation than by providing educational support. The perceived needs of library users were contrary to the perceived gaps in researcher support provided by the library/institution. All libraries reported they would find freely available, online educational modules useful for training researchers.DiscussionThe next steps for our inter-professional research team will be to develop freely available, online education modules that introduce researchers to all stages of the systematic review process. These modules cannot replace the value that direct support from librarians, biostatisticians or methodology experts can provide, however, they may offer a more efficient way for libraries to familiarize researchers and trainees with best practices and universally accepted reporting guidelines for performing a high-quality review.
Highlights
Finding efficient ways to meet the growing demand for library systematic review support is imperative for facilitating the production of high-quality research
Evidence-based medicine relies on systematic reviews as one of the highest levels of research evidence used to guide clinical decision-making [1]
The objectives of this study were: 1) to ascertain the landscape of systematic review support provided by academic and affiliated teaching hospital libraries serving researchers from the six Ontario medical schools, 2) to determine the perceived educational needs and gaps of researchers conducting systematic reviews at these institutions as perceived by the libraries, and 3) to assess the libraries’ perceived usefulness of a freely available, online educational module series for researchers that covers all stages of the systematic review process
Summary
Finding efficient ways to meet the growing demand for library systematic review support is imperative for facilitating the production of high-quality research. Discussion: The steps for our inter-professional research team will be to develop freely available, online education modules that introduce researchers to all stages of the systematic review process These modules cannot replace the value that direct support from librarians, biostatisticians or methodology experts can provide, they may offer a more efficient way for libraries to familiarize researchers and trainees with best practices and universally accepted reporting guidelines for performing a high-quality review. The production of systematic reviews has been increasing steadily for decades, but many have been conducted and reported poorly, impeding their intended usefulness and value [4, 5] Another concerning trend is overlapping and discordant reviews on the same topic, which can be confusing for clinicians to navigate while decreasing the desired time efficiency of seeking out synthesized research in the first place [4]. Redundant or poorly done reviews are a form of research waste that should be avoided as much as possible
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