Dear Anne
We are still in the process of finalising a formal contract so I would just like to provide a bit of background - to give everyone a better idea of what is involved.
The National Prescribing Centre run GP Prescribing Workshops on best practice in specific therapeutic areas. The Library Service here (me!) runs evidence based searches in support
We run about five workshops per year and the same workshop usually comes around every two years. In the interim between the same workshops the trainers would like the information to be continuously updated. As this is out of my capacity - we are looking to outsource.
Our therapeutic areas include: Endocrine, Central Nervous System, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Gastro- intestinal, NSAIDS. We are interested in the best evidence around prescribing specific drugs and updates are to be run every six months.
Please find below details of the search process, including the sources used.
The pilot demonstrated that outsourcing is a feasible option for the NPC - the results are not published - but if anyone would like further information - please let me know.
Search Strategies.
The following process ensures the best evidence is selected when preparing for a workshop.
(1) Topics and keywords are discussed by the Medical Director, Training Manager and Information Specialist, and literature search forms completed as a record of the process.
(2) Hand and website searches of the listed key journals are carried out:
Annals of Internal Medicine
Bandolier
BMJ
Clinical Evidence
JAMA
Lancet
New England Journal of Medicine
(3) Searches are run on the following websites:
Department of Health www.doh.gov.uk
National Institute of Clinical Evidence www.nice.org.uk
NeLH Guidelines www.nelh.nhs.uk/guidelines_database.asp
(inc Prodigy/ SIGN)
(4) Search strategies are produced and run on:
Cochrane
Medline: an evidence based quality filter (cited in Greenhalgh, T. How to read a paper. BMJ, 315, 183) is used (see below).
(5) Results including abstracts where available are sent to the Medical Director and Training Manager for initial critical appraisal.
(5) The required papers are identified, and ordered full-text for detailed critical appraisal.
Evidence based quality filter: - therapeutic intervention
# Search History Results
1 exp Clinical trials/ 35554
2 exp Research design/ 56044
3 randomized controlled trial.pt. 67394
4 clinical trial.pt. 136447
5 (single or double or treble or triple).tw. 210629
6 (mask$ or blind$).tw. 43224
7 5 and 6 24295
8 placebos/ or placebo.tw. 28070
9 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 7 or 8 201251
Victoria Ellis
Information Specialist
National Prescribing Centre
The Infirmary
70 Pembroke Place
Liverpool L69 3GF
0151 794 8136
>>> Anne Weist <[log in to unmask]> 04/02/02 03:49:44 >>>
Dear Vicky
please can you give list members an indication of what this outsourcing
might mean in practice i.e. the depth / quantity of searches, range of
databases, searcher's level of expertise, relationship with end user /
person requesting the search, remuneration...
I'd also like to know what your pilot demonstrated. Are the results
going to be published?
Anne
In message <[log in to unmask]>, Vicky Ellis
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>Having completed a successful pilot, we are looking to outsource some of our
>literature searches. Please let me know if you would be interested.
>
>Thanks
>
>Vicky
>
>Victoria Ellis
>Information Specialist
>National Prescribing Centre
>The Infirmary
>70 Pembroke Place
>Liverpool L69 3GF
>
>0151 794 8136
NB. Best work email for me [log in to unmask]
Anne Weist
Co-ordinating Librarian
NE London Workforce Development Confederation
Aneurin Bevan House
81-91 Commercial Road
London E1 1RD
work number 020 7655 6714 / 6627
Mobile 07949 972 845
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