Transcript Launch of the NLH Skin Conditions Specialist Library

The NLH Skin Disorders
Specialist Library and
DUETs
Douglas Grindlay & Hywel Williams
University of Nottingham
National Library for Health
The NLH Skin Disorders
Specialist Library
• “One-stop” shop for quality,
evidence-based information on
skin conditions and treatment
• Launched 8th March 2005
• Based at Centre of Evidence
Based Dermatology, University of
Nottingham
The Centre of Evidence Based
Dermatology
The Skin Disorders Specialist
Library - Scope
• All aspects of diagnosis,
treatment, management and
prevention of skin diseases
• Includes psychological and social
impact
• Also: wounds, leg & pressure
ulcers, disfigurement, plastic
surgery, sexually transmitted
diseases
Our community - Stakeholders
Secondary care clinicians - BAD
• Health Informatics Committee
• Website Committee
• Trainee Committee
• BAD Diagnostic Index
• Guidelines & PILs
• Paediatric dermatology
Our community - Stakeholders
Secondary care clinicians (cont.)
• British Association for Sexual
Health and HIV
• British Association of Plastic,
Reconstructive and Aesthetic
Surgeons
• Immunology
Our community - Stakeholders
General Practitioners
• Primary Care Dermatology
Society (mainly GPsWSI)
• Non-specialist GPs
Our community - Stakeholders
Secondary and primary care
nurses
• British Dermatological Nursing
Group
• RCN Dermatology Nursing Forum
Other health professionals
• Pharmacists
Our community - Stakeholders
Information specialists
• Health librarians
• Health informatics experts
• Other health databases - TRIP,
INTUTE, NHS Direct Online, NLH
Specialist Libraries
Our community - Stakeholders
Patient Groups
• Skin Care Campaign
• National Eczema Society
• Psoriasis Association
• Acne Support Group
• Vitiligo Society
• Contact A Family
Our community – Library users
• We don’t know exactly who uses
the Library, or where (!)
• c. 16,000 site visits per month
• Nearly 10% of total Specialist
Library site visits
• Used by patients and also health
professionals abroad
• Nearly 500 subscribers to e-mail
updates
Communication with our
community
• Stakeholders Group (formal
meetings and individual
correspondence)
• The Library
• National Knowledge Weeks
• Monthly e-mail updates
• Feedback form on home page
• Talks and stand at conferences
• Articles
Implications for DUETs
• NLH Specialist Libraries well
placed to communicate with their
communities of practice
• Centre of potential network for
collection of uncertainties and
research prioritisation
• Key role of Clinical Lead
• Great potential for dissemination
The DUETS Skin Module
Began work in January 2007
• 1st phase – Uncertainties invited
from patient groups
• 2nd phase – Uncertainties invited
from health professionals
• 3rd phase – Uncertainties
identified from systematic reviews
by Skin Disorders SL team
Uncertainties invited from
patient groups
• January 2007 – asked National
Eczema Society, Psoriasis
Association & Acne Support
Group for patient questions
• Still awaiting response of
Psoriasis Association
Uncertainties invited from
patient groups (cont.)
• Problem – support groups may
lack resources to know if
questions = true uncertainties
• Needs search for systematic
reviews by Specialist Library
team to check – a lot of work!
• Some rejects, e.g. long-term
effects of antibiotics for acne
Uncertainties invited from
health professionals
• BAD asked to collect
uncertainties from their guidelines
and Committee meetings – still
awaiting results
• Contributions from individuals
invited in National Knowledge
Weeks on acne and eczema – no
response!
Uncertainties identified from
systematic reviews
• Currently main focus of work
• Tackling one disease at a time to
avoid bias in coverage
• Started with eczema
• Using Cochrane and nonCochrane reviews
• Difficulty in judging uncertainties
Eczema module launched in
National Knowledge Week
…50 uncertainties identified so far
Link to National Knowledge
Weeks
• Annual Evidence Updates involve
search for systematic reviews –
harvest for DUETs
• Searches updated annually –
update or remove (!) uncertainties
as required
• Chance to promote DUETs and
seek contributions of
uncertainties
Conclusions
• Systematic coverage of topics
• Systematic reviews easiest
source for uncertainties
• Difficult to get active contributions
from individuals & organisations
• Danger of Specialist Libraries
doing all the work
• But: Exciting, potential of DUETs
now being realised