Medical Information Retrieval at the Point of Care
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Medical research isn’t just about discovering new treatments. Research also makes it possible for physicians to use existing treatments in ways that best help their patients, and ultimately, deliver better health care. But do family physicians have the research skills and access to information that they need?
A 2008 survey of Canadian family physicians and their attitudes towards research skills revealed surprising results:
Fewer than half (45%) agreed that their training should include promoting an interest in research as a core goal.
Only one-third (34%) agreed that family medicine residencies should place greater emphasis on research skills.
When we asked family physicians about their research needs, we found that on average, they perform 25 searches for information daily. They’re looking for information about medications, treatment options, and clinical trials. But since the obvious starting point for research—the EMR—doesn’t always have the information physicians need, they often end up working outside it. Here are some common strategies physicians use to access information, and the challenges they present:
Medical databases: These are reliable, but due to the volume of information they hold, it can be hard for physicians to navigate the search results quickly. Some databases only provide abstracts, with external links to articles. Other databases require subscriptions for access to full-text results.
Internet searches: To find the right search terms, physicians often end up juggling multiple open tabs. Then, they must filter out the countless lifestyle websites and blog posts before they can access helpful journal articles with reliable information.
Expert assistance: CMA members can receive assistance from experienced medical librarians, who can conduct literature searches, provide training on how to use the CMA’s clinical resources, and help medical professionals develop strategies to perform their own searches more effectively. These valuable services require time, however: urgent requests are answered within three business days, while routine requests are answered within two weeks.
How does Tali streamline access to medical research?
Tali’s Medical Search
