Editorial
This issue is the first of two devoted to developments in information and technology in the health sector. A particular concern in choosing topics has been a desire to inform those working in academic libraries of health sector developments and to chart connections between academic and health libraries and librarians. Health is, of course, a major customer of higher education, while many doctors are also academics. Yet there are many obstacles to cross working. For example, John Thornhill's 2003 study, "Users first: removing barriers to knowledge access across HE and the NHS" (www.doh.gov.uk/ipu/nhsla/henhs.pdf)refers to many "chronic" barriers between the two domains in terms of transparency of funding streams, legal issues, technology, work practice and culture. These inhibit seamless access to resources across the sectors. Thornhill recommends a number of solutions, such as common forums for cross sector working at a strategic level, joint procurement, standards work as well as stimulation of opportunities for collaboration at a grass roots level.
Culturally and terminologically there has been historically a divide between librarians working in the two sectors. In a small practical way, the two VINEissues may help to inform academic librarians interested in health sector issues. What is certain is that there is much to learn from health librarianship: such as a concern for evidence based practice and enthusiasm for KM.
In the first paper in the issue, Sue Childs and Sharon Dobbins chart some of the many historic barriers between the sectors (Figures 4 and 5), as background to a description of a partnership model developed by the Information Management Research Institute and a cross sectoral partnership of information professionals, the Durham and Teesside Health Libraries Alliance. The article is suggestive of the complexity of cross sector working in practice.
The vision of evidence based and reflective practice, presented in our second paper, has already gained much support in the health sector. It may increasingly capture the imaginations of those in other sectors too. Andrew Booth makes an elegant case for evidence based practice in information systems. This must be pragmatic, he argues, with a focus on informing practice; giving due weight to practical knowledge and know how along side more formal academic knowledge. He stresses that it means, too, reaching beyond the narrow limits of our own literature: into management, computing, social sciences literature among many others. Of course, this implies engaging with studies written from many research paradigms. This is possible because EBP is now moving beyond positivist assumptions derived from its origins in medicine. Appropriate criteria to evaluate interpretivist or qualitative methodologies are being developed.
In the third paper, the authors share with us the BMA library's approach to making technical, copyright and staff development decisions in the creation of an electronic version of a busy document supply service. The outcome is a model of a reliable, convenient and fast system. The very character of the authorship of the article is suggestive of the high degree of participation required in such development.
Of course, if Booth is right we should be seeking the same type of service for our own profession.
The critical, often life and death importance of health information colours much thinking in health librarianship, lending it a level of seriousness not found in the academic domain. The Internet has given patients access to vastly more information sources, which in many cases will inform choices that affect people's lives very directly. Health care professionals themselves are heavy users of the Net. This raises in acute form familiar issues of quality and persistence in Internet based information. Services such as NMap, offering a gateway to a large number (3,000 plus) quality assured resources, based on clear evaluation protocols, are invaluable in addressing such issues. Interestingly,NMap is now extending coverage into complementary and alternative medicine. The service is also another practical realisation of collaboration between academia and the health sector.
Another model of information provision is described by Maria Boehm et al. The authors describe one hospital's initiative to create an interactive Web site to inform patients, their families and carers about heart conditions. The potential value placed on such information by patient/users is hinted at by the response rate to the initial survey, as well as the popularity of the site. Yourheart offers a scaleable way to distribute information, as well as offer a level of interactivity between patient and health care practitioners. It has the potential to reach groups who have traditionally been reluctant to engage with health services. A consciously simple design, awareness of the literacy level of users and accuracy of information have been core design principles.
Our final themed paper addresses issues of accessible design in an era of multiplying modes of access. Use of handheld devices is high among doctors,because of the importance to them of portability. Dr Mohammad Al-Ubaydli examines some implications for Web design of services intended for health practitioners using handhelds. Thinking about design issues for handhelds is of general value, with the increasing use of mobile and handheld devices, and because, as he argues, the simple designs that work for this application, tend also to be accessible designs.
The issue concludes with a column by Robin Yeates, looking at institutional repositories. Such technology could play an important part in helping to interrupt the cycle of spiralling journal prices. This is itself an issue which has particular resonance for those in the health sector: with its stress on the evidence base, but relatively less wealthy information services.
Forthcoming issues
Forthcoming issues include a second set of papers on e-health, and an issue on the people's network. VINE will also publish themed issues on digital preservation and libraries and knowledge management. Those interested in contributing should contact the editor.
Andrew Cox
