Reflections on how evidence-based information practice can be applied in an evidence-based health care centreThis poster will explore ways in which evidence-based information/library practice (EBIP) can be incorporated into the work practices of information professionals at an evidence-based health care centre (EBHC). Does this influence the way in which we work? Does knowledge of EBHC principles help in the practice of EBIP?While evidence based practice at EBHCs has been applied for a number of years, EBIP is quite new. Information professionals working in EBHC centres have a relatively firm grasp of the principles and practices evidence based practice. These include five steps which can be put simply as: Ask, Search/Retrieve, Appraise, Implement and Review. Traditionally, information professionals work in the first two, and sometimes the third, step. EBIP takes on EBHC attributes and also includes that of evidence via experience, collection and application of valid statistical data, and user feedback. We ask “How can this be implemented in current practice?”, and “Are we already doing this without realising it?!” As information professionals at the Monash Institute of Health Services Research we investigate best practice for our main information activities; search strategy development, retrieval, current awareness and education and some implementation and review. If it is advantageous for any organisation that all its employees work at best practice levels and regularly evaluate their performance, these reflections will benefit the implementation of improved workflows and the review of our services currently collected in regular user surveys.
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