{"title":"Effect of Citation Numbers and Team Members on the Possibility of and Time Needed to Complete Screening for Systematic and Scoping Reviews.","authors":"E Barrett-Catton, E P Jones, R B Carlson","doi":"10.1080/02763869.2025.2471879","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02763869.2025.2471879","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Covidence is a tool that facilitates systematic review screening. Librarians obtained Covidence review data from a large research institution to identify the effect that the total number of citations, team members, and librarian collaboration has on the possibility of completion and time needed for screening. The fewer the citations and the fewer the citations per collaborator, the more likely the team is to complete title and abstract and full text screening, and the faster they will finish the screening process. This relationship was stronger for the number of citations per collaborator than the number of citations alone.</p>","PeriodicalId":39720,"journal":{"name":"Medical Reference Services Quarterly","volume":" ","pages":"119-130"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143543752","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amaneh Dadashi, Vahideh Zarea Gavgani, Sakineh Hajebrahimi, Mina Mahami-Oskouei
{"title":"Comparing the performance of librarians and medical specialists in retrieving clinical evidence: an observational study.","authors":"Amaneh Dadashi, Vahideh Zarea Gavgani, Sakineh Hajebrahimi, Mina Mahami-Oskouei","doi":"10.1080/02763869.2025.2471886","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02763869.2025.2471886","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Access to precise and reliable scientific evidence is one of the fundamental principles of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) in clinical decision-making processes. Medical librarians, by employing advanced search and information retrieval techniques, play a pivotal role in accessing such evidence. This observational study compared the search and evidence retrieval behaviors of two groups: Medical librarians and medical specialists familiar with EBM and systematic reviews. The study population consisted of 40 participants (20 medical librarians and 20 medical specialists), whose performance in retrieving the best available evidence from credible sources was evaluated using two distinct clinical scenarios. A researcher-developed checklist was created in accordance with the Guidelines for Evaluating Evidence-Based Search Strategies and was utilized to assess the search performance of participants. The findings revealed that medical librarians employed structured search strategies and were more successful in retrieving accurate evidence. They consistently utilized structured search strategies, field-specific search tools, and narrowing techniques in all cases. In contrast, medical specialists spent less time on searches and exhibited a greater tendency to use natural language terms in their search queries. medical specialists did not systematically employ controlled vocabulary or place keywords in specific fields, such as titles, keywords, or abstracts. In conclusion, librarians' expertise in accessing the best available evidence underscores their crucial role in supporting medical specialists in obtaining and implementing evidence, thereby improving the quality and reliability of evidence-based practices in healthcare settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":39720,"journal":{"name":"Medical Reference Services Quarterly","volume":" ","pages":"169-186"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144095107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Trends in Medical and Health Sciences Librarianship: A Comparative Analysis of Job Postings, Salary and Geographic Location, 2022 - 2024.","authors":"David Petersen, Emily Harris","doi":"10.1080/02763869.2025.2489935","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02763869.2025.2489935","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Job postings for medical and health sciences librarians provide valuable data for those seeking a better understanding of the evolving field of librarianship. Our data indicate a decrease in the number of postings from 2022 to 2024, a modest increase in the percentage of postings advertising remote/hybrid work, an increase in the average minimum posted salary, and a majority of postings focused on one or more public service components of library services. Utilizing this data provides a more complete picture of a profession in transition.</p>","PeriodicalId":39720,"journal":{"name":"Medical Reference Services Quarterly","volume":" ","pages":"187-198"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144001817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessing the Quality of Biomedical Boolean Search Strings Generated by Prompted and Unprompted Models Using ChatGPT: A Pilot Study.","authors":"Robyn B Reed, Derek J Barnett","doi":"10.1080/02763869.2024.2440848","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02763869.2024.2440848","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This pilot study investigated the use of Generative AI using ChatGPT to produce Boolean search strings to query PubMed. The goals were to determine if ChatGPT could be used in search string formation and if so, which approach was most effective. Research outputs from published systematic reviews were compared to outputs from AI generated search strings. While moderate overlap in publication retrieval between published and AI generated search strings was noted, the numbers were not sufficient to completely replicate published search strings and little difference was observed between prompted and unprompted GPT in using ChatGPT.</p>","PeriodicalId":39720,"journal":{"name":"Medical Reference Services Quarterly","volume":" ","pages":"31-40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142847720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"To Weed or to Keep: A Renovation-Driven Weeding Project of the Health Sciences Library Reference Collection with a Focus on the Last Institutional Copies - A Case Study.","authors":"Maria Deptula","doi":"10.1080/02763869.2025.2453718","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02763869.2025.2453718","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The weeding project of the George F. Smith Library Reference Collection was undertaken due to anticipated space reconfiguration. With no place to relocate the reference books, the librarians eliminated the reference books from the area selected for redesign by discarding material or interfiling it with the circulating collection. Only a small portion of the \"last copy monographs\" collection was selected for retention and preservation. This case study presents an analysis of a one-time comprehensive project to free up space, dispose of obsolete material, and demonstrate what went behind the decisions to discard, interfile, or preserve the \"last institutional copies\" of monographs.</p>","PeriodicalId":39720,"journal":{"name":"Medical Reference Services Quarterly","volume":" ","pages":"55-75"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143012569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ali Afraz, Mohammadreza Chashmyazdan, Reza Khajouei, Zohreh Bagherinezhad
{"title":"Literature Searches in Medical Informatics Systematic Reviews: Suggested Approaches.","authors":"Ali Afraz, Mohammadreza Chashmyazdan, Reza Khajouei, Zohreh Bagherinezhad","doi":"10.1080/02763869.2024.2429066","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02763869.2024.2429066","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study explores database selection for systematic reviews in medical informatics, addressing challenges researchers face in maximizing relevant article retrieval. Systematic reviews from top medical informatics journals in 2021 were analyzed, divided into randomized control trials and non-randomized control trials groups. Four databases were evaluated based on Recall, Precision, and Unique references. Findings revealed that for randomized control trials, the best combination was PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, while for the non-restricted group, recommended combination included PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus, highlighting effective literature search strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":39720,"journal":{"name":"Medical Reference Services Quarterly","volume":" ","pages":"17-30"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142677143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Constructing Patient Resources Keeping Literacy and Readability in Mind.","authors":"Helen-Ann Brown Epstein","doi":"10.1080/02763869.2025.2470521","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02763869.2025.2470521","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Librarians build health literacy, beginning with a focus on literacy and information literacy and moving to health literacy for different age and ethnic groups, and levels of literacy groups. Today with media, librarians have concern for the method of how to build literacy. They apply a readability formula to assess health information in multi-languages and different formats to assure each constituency can build their literacy level. This article presents definitions of the many types of literacy, readability formulas, literacy assessment tools and readability apps. The generative AI tool perplexity designed original properly targeted health information.</p>","PeriodicalId":39720,"journal":{"name":"Medical Reference Services Quarterly","volume":" ","pages":"89-101"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143543746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Using Comics to Discuss the Geriatric Clerkship Experience.","authors":"Ariel Pomputius, Mallory Otto","doi":"10.1080/02763869.2025.2463891","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02763869.2025.2463891","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As an engaging and understandable visual medium, comics can facilitate discussions around difficult topics, including aging and death, and be a useful educational tool for medical students. To achieve this end, a geriatrics clerkship program director implemented a health humanities curriculum that included a partnership with the health science library. The resulting book club gave medical students a place to discuss the clerkship and helped them draw connections between their experiences and a graphic memoir on the perspective of a caregiver to elderly parents. The librarian's background using comics for instruction and the director's expertise in geriatric medicine created an innovative new educational method.</p>","PeriodicalId":39720,"journal":{"name":"Medical Reference Services Quarterly","volume":" ","pages":"76-88"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143442440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lauren E Robinson, B Reeder, S Henderson, C M Robinson
{"title":"A Catalyst to Better Searching: Tackling Health Inequities with a Novel Interactive eResource.","authors":"Lauren E Robinson, B Reeder, S Henderson, C M Robinson","doi":"10.1080/02763869.2024.2448344","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02763869.2024.2448344","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper describes a web-based resource that aims to improve health disparities research by providing guidance and tools for searching and evaluating information on vulnerable populations. The resource integrates electronic books on equity, diversity, and inclusion with interactive tutorials and modules teaching users to formulate research questions, select appropriate search terms, and appraise their searches. The resource also addresses the issue of biased and outdated searching terminology and offers alternative strategies for finding literature. The paper explains the rationale, design, and development process of the resource, as well as its potential benefits and challenges for health disparities researchers and educators.</p>","PeriodicalId":39720,"journal":{"name":"Medical Reference Services Quarterly","volume":" ","pages":"41-54"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142972587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Resilience Practices in Health Science and Medical Libraries During the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic.","authors":"Justin F Gaynor","doi":"10.1080/02763869.2024.2420045","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02763869.2024.2420045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper uses the concept of resilience engineering as an organizing principle to discuss best practices that evolved within health science/medical libraries in the United States during COVID-19 crisis, focusing on the period March - August 2020. Protection of library staff, assistance to medical staff, reducing the circulation of misinformation and public health consumerism all required substantial changes to standard processes. These process changes had to arise in the context of both physical isolation and information overload. Some practices became widespread due to their utility, and these are the focus of this report.</p>","PeriodicalId":39720,"journal":{"name":"Medical Reference Services Quarterly","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142548162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}