2015•VCU Scholars Compass (Virginia Commonwealth University)Requires access
Do Health Sciences Libraries and Librarians Have an Impact on the Cost of Health Care and Research? A Systematic Review
Margaret Henderson, Janet Crum, Kathy J. Fatkin, Marie-Marthe Gagnon, Tony Nguyen, Madeleine Taylor, Mark Vrabel
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Abstract
Objectives: The team worked on a systematic review to answer the question: Do health sciences libraries and librarians have any measurable (statistically significant) positive impacts on consumer health, the outcomes of medical care, the productivity of biomedical researchers, and the knowledge obtained by graduates of biomedical and health sciences training programs, and at what total cost? Methods: The team used a Google site to collaborate on the review. A spreadsheet was used to brainstorm keywords and list suggestions for subject headings. Databases searched included: PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, LISTA, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The team searched grey literature and conducted a citation search, and hand searched bibliographies and journal contents. Although the team preferred to use only research reports, the main inclusion criteria was articles that mentioned the cost factor of the library or librarian impact.