making “it” work for medical care in india focus on the i of it vasumathi sriganesh qmed...

MAKING “IT” WORK FOR MAKING “IT” WORK FOR MEDICAL CARE IN INDIAMEDICAL CARE IN INDIA

Focus on the I of ITFocus on the I of IT

Vasumathi SriganeshVasumathi SriganeshQMed Knowledge FoundationQMed Knowledge Foundation

© © 20072007 QMed Knowledge FoundationQMed Knowledge Foundation 22

TechnoloTechnologygy

InformatiInformationon


EmailEmail

ChatChat

BrowsinBrowsingg

DownloadDownloadss

EMREMR

Click of Click of the the

mousemouse

BandwidtBandwidthh


DIGITAL DIVIDEDIGITAL DIVIDE““ComputComput

er er literacy”literacy”

Word Word processoprocesso

rsrs

Typing / Typing / speech speech

recognitionrecognitionSoftware Software

usageusage


PRINT ERAPRINT ERA

““Printing Printing technology”technology”

??

Letter Letter press?press?

Movable Movable type?type? Binding?Binding?

Why were these not essential for “reading”?Why were these not essential for “reading”?


LET US DISCUSSLET US DISCUSS

Two issuesTwo issues Training in “Information” useTraining in “Information” use Importance of content (information)Importance of content (information)

– Basic information - availability / lackBasic information - availability / lack– CreationCreation– UpdatesUpdates– DistributionDistribution


TRAININGTRAINING


TRAINING PROGRAMSTRAINING PROGRAMS

How many medical colleges conduct these? How many medical colleges conduct these? Use of the medical library and its resourcesUse of the medical library and its resources Sources of information on the InternetSources of information on the Internet Intelligent browsingIntelligent browsing Searching PubMedSearching PubMed Evidence Based resourcesEvidence Based resources Critical appraisal skillsCritical appraisal skills Writing papersWriting papers


TRAINING PROGRAMSTRAINING PROGRAMS

In how many institutions is it a mandate to In how many institutions is it a mandate to do a good and appropriate literature do a good and appropriate literature review for a thesis? review for a thesis?

How is it evaluated? Any criteria?How is it evaluated? Any criteria?


EXPERIENCES….EXPERIENCES….

What is PubMed?What is PubMed? Evidence Based Dentistry…. Is that Evidence Based Dentistry…. Is that

something to do with Forensic something to do with Forensic Dentistry?Dentistry?

Is PubMed specially created for Is PubMed specially created for Punjab?Punjab?


RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

Train medical and health science students in:Train medical and health science students in:– The proper use of the library’s print resources as The proper use of the library’s print resources as

well as Internet resourceswell as Internet resources– Availability of information through various Availability of information through various

resourcesresources– Evaluating information sources as well as the Evaluating information sources as well as the

information itselfinformation itself– Medical writingMedical writing– CommunicationCommunication


TRAINING…TRAINING…

UG LevelUG Level Sources – basic – books, encyclopediae, Sources – basic – books, encyclopediae,

dictionaries, primary websitesdictionaries, primary websites Basic search techniquesBasic search techniques Evaluation of sourcesEvaluation of sources Basic evaluation of informationBasic evaluation of information Basic writing / compiling skillsBasic writing / compiling skills


TRAINING…TRAINING…PG LevelPG Level Sources – basic – books, encyclopediae, dictionaries, Sources – basic – books, encyclopediae, dictionaries,

primary websitesprimary websites Advanced search techniquesAdvanced search techniques Evaluation of sources Evaluation of sources Evaluation of information in sources (critical appraisal)Evaluation of information in sources (critical appraisal) Medical writing – for case reports / journal articles / Medical writing – for case reports / journal articles /

thesisthesis– Importance to copyright / plagiarism related issuesImportance to copyright / plagiarism related issues– Other legal issuesOther legal issues


SOURCES OF INFORMATIONSOURCES OF INFORMATION

Originally in print – now in Originally in print – now in electronic formatselectronic formats

Electronic onlyElectronic only Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Primary, Secondary, Tertiary

sourcessources



Originally in printOriginally in print– BooksBooks– JournalsJournals– Dictionaries / EncyclopediaeDictionaries / Encyclopediae– BiographiesBiographies– Reference SourcesReference Sources– IndexesIndexes– …………………………………………………………



Electronic onlyElectronic only– BooksBooks– JournalsJournals– Dictionaries / EncyclopediaeDictionaries / Encyclopediae– BiographiesBiographies– Reference SourcesReference Sources– IndexesIndexes– …………………………………………………………



Primary / Secondary / Tertiary Primary / Secondary / Tertiary SourcesSources

Where to begin / how to proceedWhere to begin / how to proceed The difference between each:The difference between each:

– what you can getwhat you can get

– cannot get cannot get


AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATIONAVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION

InternetInternet

LibrariesLibraries ExpertsExperts

Free / Paid Free / Paid forfor


MEDICAL WRITINGMEDICAL WRITING

IntroductionIntroduction MaterialsMaterials ResultsResults DiscussionDiscussion References written accuratelyReferences written accurately


COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION

““Technical”Technical” Conveying the message with no Conveying the message with no

ambiguityambiguity Right information at the right time to the Right information at the right time to the

right personright person– Patient educationPatient education– Communication with colleaguesCommunication with colleagues


TRAINING…TRAINING…

Developed countriesDeveloped countries By FacultyBy Faculty By LibrariesBy Libraries Independent bodiesIndependent bodies In conjunctionIn conjunction


SUMMING UPSUMMING UP

Training in IndiaTraining in India Not part of the curriculumNot part of the curriculum Scattered in some institutionsScattered in some institutions Additionally by agencies like NIC / Additionally by agencies like NIC /

QMedQMed Overall – reaches only a minorityOverall – reaches only a minority


QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

-> That we need to ask ourselves:-> That we need to ask ourselves: WHY is training in the use of information WHY is training in the use of information

resources not mandatory?resources not mandatory? WHY is there no evaluation of WHY is there no evaluation of

methodology of literature searching?methodology of literature searching? IS there any study on IS there any study on effectiveeffective usage of usage of

library resources in health science library resources in health science Institutions in India?Institutions in India?


TRAINING IN INDIATRAINING IN INDIA

Urgent RequirementUrgent Requirement Compulsory – part of curriculum in Compulsory – part of curriculum in

everyevery medical / paramedical programmedical / paramedical program More trained personnel to offer training More trained personnel to offer training

programsprograms

– Train the TrainerTrain the Trainer


IMPORTANCE OF IMPORTANCE OF CONTENTCONTENT


CONTENTCONTENT

Basic information - Availability / lackBasic information - Availability / lack CreationCreation UpdatesUpdates DistributionDistribution


BASIC INFORMATIONBASIC INFORMATION

Needs – different for different audienceNeeds – different for different audience Academic – Books / Journals / academic Academic – Books / Journals / academic

information resources – bibliographical information resources – bibliographical databases etcdatabases etc

Research – As above – more advancedResearch – As above – more advanced Clinicians – Evidence based compilations as Clinicians – Evidence based compilations as

well as academicwell as academic Primary practitioners – Continuously updated Primary practitioners – Continuously updated

guidelines / basic books etcguidelines / basic books etc


SCENARIO TODAYSCENARIO TODAY

AcademicAcademic Lack of adequate budgets for resourcesLack of adequate budgets for resources Inefficient / misuse of budgetsInefficient / misuse of budgets Subscription renewals badly delayed every Subscription renewals badly delayed every

yearyear No methodological approach for revamping No methodological approach for revamping

library collection development library collection development – With / through the Internet there is a huge scope With / through the Internet there is a huge scope

to do a systematic revampingto do a systematic revamping



Research institutionsResearch institutions Overall - probably in the best positionOverall - probably in the best position Private research institutions do not get Private research institutions do not get

the benefits that Government the benefits that Government institutions do institutions do



CliniciansClinicians Only those in hospitals have some sort Only those in hospitals have some sort

of information accessof information access Private practitioners depend on the Private practitioners depend on the

Internet (if they know how to use it) or Internet (if they know how to use it) or on Pharma medical reps!on Pharma medical reps!



Primary care practitioners – in rural / semi-Primary care practitioners – in rural / semi-urban areas & GPs and paramedicsurban areas & GPs and paramedics

No library / information facilitiesNo library / information facilities City based GPs / family physicians depend on City based GPs / family physicians depend on

Pharma medical reps – who prefer to cater to Pharma medical reps – who prefer to cater to specialistsspecialists

Rural / semi urban – depend on publications Rural / semi urban – depend on publications like newsletters only! like newsletters only!


ONE GOOD INITIATIVE ONE GOOD INITIATIVE (ACCESS)(ACCESS)

Thanks to Thanks to ICMRICMR


GOOD INDIAN INITIATIVES GOOD INDIAN INITIATIVES (Content creation / aggregation)(Content creation / aggregation)

Chiefly for academics & researchChiefly for academics & research NIC’s Indmed, Medind, UNCAT, OpenMedNIC’s Indmed, Medind, UNCAT, OpenMed MedknowMedknow JGate and other Union CatalogsJGate and other Union Catalogs National Health Information Collaboration – National Health Information Collaboration –

nhicindia.ernet.innhicindia.ernet.in Government websites – MOHFW / ICMR etcGovernment websites – MOHFW / ICMR etc QMed’s Directory of Indian Medical Sites – QMed’s Directory of Indian Medical Sites –

www.indianmedicalsites.inwww.indianmedicalsites.in


QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Yes – again – questions we need to ask Yes – again – questions we need to ask ourselves:ourselves:

Why are we not taking information access Why are we not taking information access more seriously?more seriously?

Why are we not making the best use of Why are we not making the best use of technology to revamp our access policies / technology to revamp our access policies / library services?library services?

What are we doing about information flow to What are we doing about information flow to those who need primary care information those who need primary care information updates?updates?


CONTENT CREATION CONTENT CREATION

Primary data collectionPrimary data collection CompilationCompilation Statistical analysesStatistical analyses Evidence based summariesEvidence based summaries Guidelines / RecommendationsGuidelines / Recommendations

Respective content for different audienceRespective content for different audience


CONTENT CREATION CONTENT CREATION

RequiresRequires Correct methodologyCorrect methodology Technical writing skillsTechnical writing skills Formats for distribution – balance of Formats for distribution – balance of

print and electronic – both offline and print and electronic – both offline and onlineonline


CONTENT UPDATIONCONTENT UPDATION

Frequency of updates – depending on Frequency of updates – depending on type of contenttype of content– Evidence based summaries / guidelines – Evidence based summaries / guidelines –

at least once in 2 – 3 years, and if there is at least once in 2 – 3 years, and if there is a need to change, based on research a need to change, based on research findingsfindings

Online content – need to mention Online content – need to mention – Last updated dateLast updated date– Absence of changeAbsence of change


DISTRIBUTIONDISTRIBUTION

Big challengeBig challenge–Levels for target audienceLevels for target audience

–AmountAmount

–FrequencyFrequency

–Mode (print / electronic / online)Mode (print / electronic / online)


•SimpleSimple•MinimalMinimal•When When neededneeded•Offline / printOffline / print

•ComplexComplex•DetailedDetailed•ProactivProactivee•OnlineOnline


DISTRIBUTIONDISTRIBUTION

Levels, Amount and Frequency – based Levels, Amount and Frequency – based on productionon production

ModeMode– Online, offline and print are based on costs Online, offline and print are based on costs

and target audience needand target audience need– Pull and Push methods – combination of Pull and Push methods – combination of

online facilities and use of “resource online facilities and use of “resource centres” (like libraries / information centres)centres” (like libraries / information centres)


SOURCES - INDIASOURCES - INDIA

Push models – based on servicesPush models – based on services Still weak - lack of Still weak - lack of

– Good infrastructureGood infrastructure– MarketingMarketing– AwarenessAwareness

To primary areas like villages / townsTo primary areas like villages / towns– Practically non-existentPractically non-existent


HYBRID MODELHYBRID MODEL

GLSN – www.glsn.com – initiative from GLSN – www.glsn.com – initiative from AustraliaAustralia

Aims to be an offline library of Creative Aims to be an offline library of Creative Commons ContentCommons Content

Seeks inputs from producers of free Seeks inputs from producers of free content content

Hosts all content on a website / serverHosts all content on a website / server


HYBRID MODELHYBRID MODEL

Distribution to nodes by direct downloads / Distribution to nodes by direct downloads / CDsCDs

Further distribution to individuals from nodes Further distribution to individuals from nodes by copying on CDs / flash drives, through by copying on CDs / flash drives, through email or by printing – depending on policy of email or by printing – depending on policy of nodenode

Software tool is free, content seekers pay for Software tool is free, content seekers pay for – Content (institutions)Content (institutions)– Services offered by nodes (individuals)Services offered by nodes (individuals)


QMED’S INITIATIVESQMED’S INITIATIVES

QMed Knowledge Foundation aims to tackle QMed Knowledge Foundation aims to tackle the issues of the issues of – TrainingTraining

Searching literature, Critical Appraisal, Library activitiesSearching literature, Critical Appraisal, Library activities

– Content DistributionContent Distribution Using GLSN’s offeringUsing GLSN’s offering Services of literature search, document deliveryServices of literature search, document delivery

In collaboration with people / entities with In collaboration with people / entities with similar interestssimilar interests


QMED’S VISIONQMED’S VISION

To empower healthcare professionals use To empower healthcare professionals use reliable and relevant medical reliable and relevant medical

information through the effective use of information through the effective use of Information Technology, for delivering Information Technology, for delivering

quality healthcare services to allquality healthcare services to all


WE HOPEWE HOPE

Our recommendations are taken upOur recommendations are taken up We get good collaborators and supportWe get good collaborators and support We contribute to making a difference!We contribute to making a difference!


THANK YOUTHANK YOU

[email protected]@qmedin.com

making “it” work for medical care in india focus on the i of it vasumathi sriganesh qmed...

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