Liaison Role Research Articles

“So, That Would Have Been Useful”: Curriculum in LIS in Support of Liaison Librarian Preparation

LIS education has historically come under fire for what some perceive as a disconnect between what is taught in the classroom and what the job really entails. This study is part of a larger research study that used a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design to investigate liaison librarians’ perceptions of their academic preparation to take on the liaison role, specifically whether and how their LIS program curriculum prepared them for this role. This qualitative strand of the study relied on in-depth semi-structured interviews of survey participants to explore two research questions: What are the perceptions of academic liaison librarians regarding the degree to which their programs prepared them for their current role? And which factors influenced these perceptions? This research identified the main reasons hindering the effectiveness of LIS education for preparing librarians for the liaison role to be a range of complex issues that LIS programs and educators should consider, such as changing career plans among students who did not initially plan to become liaison librarians, students not taking certain courses due to scheduling or course timing issues, and the abstract nature of some course content which obscures connections to real-world practice. Participants also identified courses in collection development, reference, instruction, and research methods as those that should take center stage when preparing liaison librarians. These results have the potential to inform various aspects of LIS program curriculum planning and design and provide course-selection guidance for LIS students considering a career in academic libraries.

Practices of critical challenges during requirements implementation in global software development:A systematic literature review

Context: Finding practices of critical challenges are essential in global software development (GSD).Practices of different challenges have discussed in literature in dispersed form that need a proper method to make them useful.Objective: To find out the practices of critical challenges in GSD. New practices helps team to work collaboratively with new products and features and to improve the overall quality of the development process. Some challenges have different background with unique practices which can be find out through a proper process. Method: Systematic literature review (SLR) is used to find out the practices of critical challenges in GSD.Result: Some common practices are ‘Use of synchronous and asynchronous communication technologies’, ‘Use of modern tools and technologies for GSD’, ‘Frequent/regular agile meetings’, ‘Role of effective management’, ‘Process maturity’, ‘Role of liaison’ and ‘Clear roles and responsibilities of duty’.

Strategies for advancing inclusive biodiversity research through equitable practices and collective responsibility.

Biodiversity research is essential for addressing the global biodiversity crisis, necessitating diverse participation and perspectives of researchers from a wide range of backgrounds. However, conservation faces a significant inclusivity problem because local expertise from biodiversity-rich but economically disadvantaged regions is often underrepresented. This underrepresentation is driven by linguistic bias, undervalued contributions, parachute science practices, and capacity constraints. Although fragmented solutions exist, a unified multistakeholder approach is needed to address the interconnected and systemic conservation issues. We devised a holistic framework of collective responsibility across all research participants and tailored strategies that embrace diversity and dismantle systemic barriers to equitable collaboration. This framework delineates the diverse actors and practices required for promoting inclusivity in biodiversity research, assigning clear responsibilities to researchers, publishers, institutions, and funding bodies. Strategies for researchers include cultivating self-awareness, expanding literature searches, fostering partnerships with local experts, and promoting knowledge exchange. For institutions, we recommend establishing specialized liaison roles, implementing equitable policies, allocating resources for diversity initiatives, and enhancing support for international researchers. Publishers can facilitate multilingual dissemination, remove financial barriers, establish inclusivity standards, and ensure equitable representation in peer review. Funders must remove systemic barriers, strengthen research networks, and prioritize equitable resource allocation. Implementing these stakeholder-specific strategies can help dismantle deep-rooted biases and structural inequities in biodiversity research, catalyzing a shift toward a more inclusive and representative model that amplifies diverse perspectives and maximizes collective knowledge for effective global conservation.

Reducing Undue Burden on Nurses Related to Limited Care Partner Visitation: Lessons Learned for the Future.

The purpose of this article was to report best practices for reducing undue burden on nurses related to limited care partner visitation. Care partners are beneficial to hospitalized patients. Restricted care partner visitation not only impacts patients and care partners but also affects nurses. Using the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice model, best practices for reducing nurse burden during periods of restricted visitation were evaluated. Best practices include evidence-based visiting policies, technology to facilitate communication, creation of a communication liaison role or team, and communication skills training for nurses. Nursing leaders should proactively prevent the harmful impact that visitor restrictions have on nurses.

Librarian Perspectives on Technical Standards at Academic Institutions with Engineering Technology Programs

Technical standards are resources that are important for engineering and engineering technology students due to ABET accreditation requirements and future professional use of the documents. Previous studies have surveyed librarians at Association of Research Libraries (ARL) institutions with engineering programs and librarians at universities with top-ranked engineering programs about standards. This study fills a gap by focusing on librarians at institutions with engineering technology programs. We surveyed 34 academic librarians at institutions with four-year bachelor programs in the disciplines of mechanical engineering technology or electrical and electronics engineering technology to learn about standards access and challenges at their libraries, standards education for students, and librarians’ standards-related professional development experiences and needs. Key findings include: standards access and standards education efforts are skewed towards larger institutions; librarians encounter significant cost challenges in providing standards access; few librarians receive education about standards until moving into their careers; and there is a need for self-paced librarian training materials focused on standards. Further education for librarians about standards and increased standards access has the potential to have a significant impact on many students, given the reach of librarians in their liaison roles.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women living with and beyond breast cancer: a qualitative study of women’s experiences and how they varied by social determinants of health

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to explore the general impact of COVID-19 on the access and use of BC services and support and overall well-being in women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer (BC) and to investigate how these experiences varied by the social determinants of health (SDH).MethodsSemi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with women selected through stratified purposive sampling to ensure data were available on information-rich cases. Interviews were conducted in early 2021 during government restrictions due to COVID-19. Thematic analysis was conducted to obtain overall experience and variation of experience based on SDH.ResultsThirty seven women participated in interviews. Three major themes, with additional subthemes, emerged from analysis: 1. breast cancer services (screening, active treatment, and routine care); 2. breast cancer support and communication (continuity of care, role of liaison, and support services); and 3. quality of life (QoL) and well-being (emotional well-being; social well-being; and functional well-being). Women’s experiences within the themes varied by socio-economic status (SES) and region of residence (urban/rural) specifically for BC services and support.ConclusionThe pandemic impacted women living with and beyond BC, but the impact has not been the same for all women. This study highlights areas for improvement in the context of BC care in Ireland and the findings will inform further policy and practice, including standardized BC services, improved communication, and enhancement of cancer support services.

Supporting families and caregivers of children with disabilities through a parent peer mentor (PPM): experiences from a patient-oriented research network

BackgroundThe CHILD-BRIGHT Network created a parent peer mentor (PPM) role to support other parents who were engaging as partners in the different research projects and activities of the network. We aim to describe how a PPM functioned to support parent-partners of children with disabilities in research projects within the Network.MethodsIn this case study, the PPM approached 50 parent-partners and scheduled a 1-on-1 initial telephone call to offer support for any issues arising. When consent was provided, the PPM recorded interactions with network parent-partners in a communication report in an Excel form. Also, verbatim transcription from one in-depth interview with the PPM was included for data analysis using qualitative description. The Guidance for Reporting Involvement of Patients and the Public (GRIPP2-SF) was used to report on involvement of patient-partners.ResultsA total of 55 interactions between 25 parent-partners and the PPM were documented between May 2018 and June 2021. The PPM’s support and liaison role contributed to adaptation of meeting schedules for parent-partners, amendment of the compensation guidelines, and ensuring that internal surveys and the newsletter were more accessible and engaging. The PPM also facilitated community-building by keeping parent-partners connected with researchers in the Network. Families and caregivers in the Network were comfortable sharing their experiences and emotions with the PPM who was also a parent herself, allowing researchers and the Network to learn more about parents’ experiences in partnering with them and how to improve engagement.ConclusionsWe highlight the important complementary role that a PPM can play in enhancing patient engagement in research by better understanding the experiences and needs of parent-partners.

Providing a catering liaison service between inpatient families and the hospital kitchen

Jo Wray and colleagues use a case study to outline an innovative approach to hospital catering, proposing the introduction of a catering liaison role to improve patient nutrition, reduce length of stay and save resources.

Traveller end of life care experiences and needs: thematic analysis

ObjectivesTravelling communities are a significant, but poorly understood, group of ethnic minorities known to experience inequalities in many aspects of healthcare, including at the end of life. This study explored...

Modal Sosial Kelompok dalam Pengembangan Ekowisata Mangrove di Desa Kayu Ara Permai Kecamatan Sungai Apit Kabupaten Siak

Social capital that has roles and responsibilities in determining ecotourism development. This study aims to look at the elements of social capital of the Konservasi Laskar Mandiri Group in the Development of Mangrove Sungai Bersejarah Ecotourism. The research was conducted using qualitative research methods and the data research techniques used included in-depth interview, observation and documentation. The subjects of study were selected using a purposive sampling technique with a total of 5 group members who were active and had joined the group for more than 2 years and 1 key informant, namely the village apparatus of Kayu Ara Permai. The research found some social capital elements in groups: networks, beliefs, norms and pro-active actions that are intertwined between group memberships, communities and partners. Social Capital contained in the group plays a role as an adhesive (Bonding) among members to foster high awareness, a sense of comfort, safety, shared responsibility, and gain good knowledge on how to increase group capacity, develop ecotourism and process the mangrove derivative products. The role of bridging (Bridging) encourages positive behavior, increases community participation, as well as funding and makes Ecotourism a village development priority. Finally, the role of liaison (Linking) is the establishment of cooperation with different strata to obtain funds from partners to build ecotourism facilities, increase group knowledge and promote ecotourism and process the mangrove derivative products produced by the group.

The Medical Science Liaison Role in Spain: Opinion of the Commercial Department Personnel.

The Medical Science Liaison (MSL) works in a cross-functional way, especially with the commercial department. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge of these positions about the MSL role in their companies and describe the grade of internal interaction between them in daily practice. An online survey was completed by 151 employees from commercial departments between January and April 2020. It consisted of 29 or 31 items, depending on answers. Of participants, 22.5% and 77.5% occupied management or non-management positions, respectively. Most respondents stated that the MSL role belongs primarily to the medical department (94.6%), considered important that promotional materials are elaborated or supported by the medical department (95.4%), highlighted the importance of sharing their daily activity with MSLs (77.8%) and vice versa (89.3%). The most valuable activity of MSLs was clinical sessions (55.3%), followed by speaker briefings (16.0%), and data discussions (14.7%). Most useful activities of MSLs for participant's day to day were external training (sessions to healthcare providers, HCPs, 34.9%), support of key opinion leaders' (KOLs) unmet needs (22.1%), and feedback from fieldwork aimed at redefining new strategies of the company (15.4%). The mean overall assessment (0-10) of the MSL was 8.1. The MSL represents a key role inside pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies, providing scientific value. The members of the commercial departments interact with the MSL on a daily basis and consider that it is a strategic position with a great future that adds value within the company.

Community research liaison role in increasing participation of African Americans in cognitive research: A case study

AbstractBackgroundRacial and ethnic underrepresentation in aging research and need for effective recruitment strategies is well documented. A Community Research Liaison (CRL) role created under a NIA award is demonstrating the value of embedding staff from underrepresented communities in the research infrastructure.MethodsThe role and qualifications for a CRL were developed with individuals from an African American community. The CRL hired from this community is engaging in outreach to understand barriers to and discuss the value of research with community members. Through the CRL, community input is being translated into changes in recruitment methods that reflect the concerns, interests and needs of potential African American participants. This case study reports on recruitment outcomes for a study on markers of cognitive decline in older adults requiring 2 hours in an MRI, 5 for testing, and 3 for travel. Recruitment data are compared 6 months before and 3 months after the CRL was engaged.ResultIn the 6 months prior to the CRL’s involvement, 309 individuals passed an initial screening and 156 were found potentially eligible after a second screening. Five (3.2%) of the 156 were African American. Of these, one was found ineligible, one was lost to follow‐up and the 3 participated in the study. In the first 3 months after the CRL was engaged, 35 were referred to the study after recruitment by the CRL. All were African American, 15 (43%) were eligible and enrolled, 9 (26%) were ineligible, and 9 (26%) are still in the screening process.ConclusionThe case study demonstrates the promise of a CRL who is a member of an African American community in increasing African American participation in research. The CRL dramatically increased the number of older African Americans recruited despite potential participation barriers. The increase was due in large part to the CRL’s understanding of and recognition as a trusted member of the community and to changes she recommended to promotional materials and logistics based on community feedback. Data on recruitment effectiveness are continuing to be evaluated across a range of aging research studies and clinical trials in which the CRL is engaged.

Evaluation of a family liaison officer role introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study.

The restrictions to hospital visiting for carers and relatives during the pandemic were unprecedented. To ensure patients could stay in touch with their relatives and carers new liaison roles were introduced. The aim of this study is to report on the evaluation of a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) role to understand the rationale for introducing the role along with the challenges and benefits of its implementation. A concurrent mixed methods design was used, triangulating both semi structured interviews and online surveys. Data were collected during 2021 from postholders, patients/relatives and key stakeholders. The family liaison officer role occupies a key brokering role between clinical teams and patients/relatives. All participants agreed the importance of the role particularly in relation to communication. Postholders noted issues around clarity of scope of practice. Patients reported the social benefits of the FLOs particularly in relation to technology. There was also key learning in terms of induction, training and line management of this nonprofessional role. There is limited research that evaluates emerging nonprofessional roles that connect clinical teams and patients/relatives. This evaluation study although limited to one organisation provides important insights to the strategic and operational learning to introducing a family liaison officer role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The emotional work of being a teacher educator and persisting through a pandemic

Dunbar and Baker (2014) identify the personal experiences of teaching as “emotional labor” based on Hargreaves (1998) “emotional practice” of teaching. We engaged in a collaborative self-study investigating the emotional work of teacher educators during a global pandemic. We examined the role of liaison in our context - university faculty working to support teacher candidates in school placements for a “professional year.” Liaisons serve in “boundary crossing” (Akkerman & Bakker, 2011) roles and negotiate stressors within multi-membership across contexts. The development of teacher educators would benefit from explicit attention to care, relationships, and negotiating boundaries in sites of clinical practice.

“To Make the Powerless Parents Powerful”: Examining a Racially Minoritized Community Driven Approach to Family Liaisons

School leaders continually seek innovative ways to engage with diverse communities. In this Expressions in Urban Educationloratory case study, I draw on the concept of community cultural wealth to Expressions in Urban Educationlore how a Black and Latinx parent organization designed a family liaison role to support families withvirtual learning during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings suggest that attention to the historical and cultural knowledge of Black and Latinx communities allowed for the family liaison position to be both supportive and emancipatory for the parents in the study. This research has policy and practice implications for leaders working with Black and Latinx communities.

A Comprehensive Medication Management Liaison (CMML) Process Framework for Expanded Interdisciplinary Day-Surgery Teams

Implementation science (IS) in the field of surgical care can help with adoption of evidence-based strategies, prevent and manage adverse events, and facilitate high quality medical care. This could be challenging in same day or outpatient surgery settings however. This research letter explores factors in developing a framework to address medication adverse events using CMML with anesthesiology and expanded interdisciplinary outpatient surgical teams. The six-month qualitative study involved interviewing key informants on managing a case example of a perioperative anesthesia adverse event, utilizing Roger’s Diffusion of Innovation Theory as a theoretical framework. Emergent codes and themes pertained to awareness and knowledge of the problem significance, qualifications, empowerment, and financial viability of the proposed liaison role. CMML was found to be valued by study participants with safety and costeffectiveness implications. Still, CMML adoption would require addressing leadership motivators and barriers, multidisciplinary credentialing and engagement to enhance IS research capacity. Key consideration points for implementation are Pre-Admission and Recovery, Internal Medicine consults, Anesthesiologist accessibility, Patient Education, Interdisciplinary Communication. Implementation should build upon existing effective organizational processes, with a framework of Regulatory, Workforce, and Fiscal pillars for IS strategy success.

Interprofessional Interventions to Improve Serious Illness Communication in the Intensive Care Unit: A Scoping Review.

Serious illness communication is fundamental to the provision of quality care for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Evidence suggests that including interprofessional team members in such communication is beneficial. This scoping review--conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines-maps existing evidence regarding interprofessional interventions to improve serious illness communication in the ICU. The review yielded 14 studies for inclusion, which were organized by 3 thematic categories of strategies implemented: training curriculum, scheduled meetings, and liaison role. Most used a combination of intervention strategies. Outcome measures varied across the studies but could be broadly categorized as patient/family-focused, provider-focused, or systems-focused. Great heterogeneity between studies exists. More research is needed.

Prepare to be unprepared? LIS curriculum and academic liaison preparation

This research explored the ways in which current liaison librarians feel their LIS programs prepared them for their role, focusing on two research questions: To what extent do librarians working as liaisons in academic institutions in the US and Canada feel their LIS programs prepared them for their liaison role? How much of the preparation of librarians to be liaisons can be attributed to their programs' curriculum, especially in terms of where in the curriculum the liaison role is addressed? Results of a survey of 366 liaisons demonstrate that across a variety of contexts, most respondents feel their programs prepared them to be liaisons, but those who completed the academic library track more often than expected indicated feeling prepared. A majority of participants indicated non-curriculum experiences, such as assistantships, paid employment, and internships in academic libraries, as useful in their preparation, with one exception: those who completed online programs less often than expected indicated non-curricular experiences as useful in preparation for their current liaison role. Overall, the most useful courses cited included specialized courses, reference, instruction, and collection management, suggesting some preparation from core courses, but additional preparation coming from elective courses not always taken by or available to everyone.

The role of the ICU liaison nurse services on anxiety in family caregivers of patients after ICU discharge during COVID-19 pandemic: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundWith the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to maintain social distancing and changes in wards' structure, families no longer access the routine support they received during the hospitalization of their patients in the ICU. This study aimed to determine the effects of ICU liaison nurse services on the anxiety in patients’ family caregivers after ICU discharge during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis randomized controlled trial was performed in western Iran from February 2020, to March 2021. Sixty subjects were selected from the family caregivers of the patients transferred from the ICU and were randomly assigned to the control (n = 30) and the intervention groups (n = 30). The control group received routine transfer care. In the intervention group, liaison nurse services were offered in 4 dimensions: patient support, family support, training, support of the ward’s staff, and the evaluation of the destination ward. The participants’ anxiety was measured using the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory immediately after the patient transfer and 6 h after admission to the general ward. Data analyzed with SPSS V16, descriptive and inferential statistics, including Chi-square test, Mann–Whitney test, Wilcoxon test, and Generalized Linear Model with cumulative logit link function. Results were reported at a 0.05 significance level.ResultsA statistically significant difference was observed in baseline anxiety levels (P = 0.035) and age group (P < 0.001) between the intervention and control groups. After moderating baseline anxiety levels, the age group, and marital status, the impact of the intervention was significant (X2 = 10.273, df = 1, P < 0.001), meaning that the intervention could reduce the relative chances of developing higher levels of anxiety by 92.1% (OR: 0.08, 95%CI: 0.017–0.373, P < 0.001).ConclusionsThis study confirmed the positive impact of nursing services on reducing anxiety in family caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is recommended to use these services, especially during the COVID-19 condition, to facilitate the patient transfer, support the patient's family, and reduce the health care gap between the ICU and the ward.

Recruitment, integration and retention of international nurses in NHS Trusts

BJ Olsen shares her experiences as a nurse who trained in another country and now works in the UK and considers how an international nurse liaison role might help overcome barriers to retention