Issues and problems for librarians' conducting research - an example of a randomised controlled trial comparing the effect of e-learning, with a taught workshop, on the knowledge and search skills of health professionals.

Background
Training health professionals to search databases is thought to improve their skills and knowledge, but there is little evidence in the literature to back this up. Health librarians regularly teach searching workshops, but do not know whether these social cognitive learning methods are effective for health professionals. Self-directed online, or e-learning, is becoming more widespread, but again there is little evidence to show whether this is an effective training method. Librarians need to be confident that group sessions to teach search skills are worthwhile, and developing e-learning resources for search skills training is justified.

Methods
The study design is a randomised controlled trial, involving health professionals working for the Oxfordshire Radcliffe Trust. Participants will be randomised into two groups – one group will receive access to a search skills web resource (e-group) and the other group will receive a search workshop taught by a librarian (workshop group). The e-group will be shown a demonstration of the e-learning resource and asked to complete as much of the module as they can over the next week; the workshop group will receive a 1.5 hour taught workshop. Participants will complete pre- and post-intervention tests involving multiple choice questions and practical searching using clinical scenarios. A follow up test will be sent 4 weeks later. The test results will be evaluated using a score chart/checklist.

Results and conclusion
The main hypothesis for this trial is that the two educational interventions will be equally effective in transferring knowledge and skills. When results are obtained and analysed in the summer, it will be possible to assess the validity of this hypothesis.