Hello All,
First, thank you to all the respondents who took the time to give comprehensive replies to my questions. The main message I’ve got from them is just do it – and add another string to the librarians’ bow!
Here is a summary, culled from the replies. If anyone wants the detailed answers and other documents that were sent, please get in touch with me direct.
A couple of general points came out:
- CA training is about facilitation, rather than imposing learning. The participants tend to be highly motivated and bring their own skills (e.g., clinical knowledge) and the sessions are quite interactive
- only a basic knowledge of statistics is needed, just enough to make sense of an article’s message
- the design & conduct of the study is most important, so basing the training around the checklists (eg CASP) seems to be successful.
The answers:
1. Who do you train?
Doctors, nurses, AHPs, undergraduate and postgraduate students in science and medicine, managers and finance staff, GPs – anyone who has to read papers from scientific journals.
2. Who does the training?
Normally just a librarian.
3. What level of teaching do you carry out? Is it enough to go through checklists, e.g. CASP, or do participants want more detail?
The checklists are very useful and usually enough, especially when starting out as they are a way of getting back on track and keeping the session focused. They also deal with stats as only a part of the process so it helps to put stats in their place. There is usually enough in the checklists to generate plenty of discussion. It isn't teaching as much as facilitating. In the CASP checklist hints there are a few teaching points that I usually make sure people take away (e.g. stratified randomisation, intention to treat etc).
4. How much statistics do you get involved in for the majority of participants
Very basic stats, enough to make sense of a paper: P-values, confidence intervals, the different types of risk (relative, absolute, NNT).
5. How important is clinical knowledge?
No clinical knowledge is required, though of course it adds something to the session if you have, but this is something that the group supplies. Trying to find appropriate articles can be difficult and relevant ones could be checked with a friendly clinician before hand if necessary.
6. Do you do a one-off session or a series? How long do your sessions last?
Mostly single sessions but from 1 hour to all day.
7. What training did you do before taking on CA training?
A range from no formal training through local CA courses, CILIP, ScHARR, & CASP training, to CASP Train-the-Trainer courses.
Regards,
Paul
Paul Manson
Liaison/Clinical Librarian
NHS Grampian
Room 1:091
Medical Library
Polwarth Building
Foresterhill
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZD
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Internal: ext 59433
External: 01224 559433
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