Dear all,
I have recently come across a piece of research by G Cheng looking at whether
there is a significant correlation between clinicians asking focussed clinical
questions (i.e. PICO format) and the success they have at finding the
information they need.
The reference is:
Cheng GYT (2004). A study of clinical questions posed by hospital clinicians.
Journal of the Medical Library Association, 92(4), pp. 445-457.
The conclusion that Cheng comes to is that whether clinicians structure their
query as a question or statement has no effect on their satisfaction with the
results, and neither does their use of the PICO structure. If this is true, it
strikes me as something that should have a big effect on the way people practice
and teach EBP. But I’m not sure that it’s true.
I was wondering if anyone else out there had come across this paper, and whether
they had any comments? Has anyone thoroughly appraised the article? My
critical appraisal skills are not insignificant, but I don’t have a research
background so tend to come unstuck once I reach a certain point. I suspect
there are some flaws with the validity of the conclusion, but I would love to
hear some viewpoints from those more experienced than me.
Thanks for your help,
Ben.
Ben Skinner
Evidence-Based / Knowledge Management Librarian
The Library
Audrey Emerton Building
Royal Sussex County Hospital
Eastern Road
Brighton BN2 5BE
(01273) 523 307 / RSCH x3307
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