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Clinical Trial
. 2001 Dec;16(12):838-44.
doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2001.10239.x.

Resident utilization of information technology

C H Cabell  1 , C Schardt, L Sanders, G R Corey, S A Keitz
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Resident utilization of information technology

C H Cabell et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2001 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: To determine if a simple educational intervention can increase resident physician literature search activity.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: University hospital-based internal medicine training program.

Patients/participants: Forty-eight medical residents rotating on the general internal medicine service.

Interventions: One-hour didactic session, the use of well-built clinical question cards, and practical sessions in clinical question building.

Measurements and main results: Objective data from the library information system that included the number of log-ons to medline, searching volume, abstracts viewed, full-text articles viewed, and time spent searching. Median search activity as measured per person per week (control vs intervention): number of log-ons to medline (2.1 vs 4.4, P <.001); total number of search sets (24.0 vs 74.2, P <.001); abstracts viewed (5.8 vs 17.7, P=.001); articles viewed (1.0 vs 2.6, P=.005); and hours spent searching (0.8 vs 2.4, P <.001).

Conclusions: A simple educational intervention can markedly increase resident searching activity.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Standardized curriculum used for didactic session. The standardized curriculum was delivered during a 1-hour didactic session to the intervention group. It was delivered in a consistent fashion over time.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
The well-built clinical question card. The cards were used by the intervention group to record clinical questions. In the first column, the patient/population or problem was recorded. Next, the intervention or exposure was added. If an appropriate comparison existed, then this information was placed in the bottom half of the second column. Finally, the outcome of interest was recorded in the third column. The cards were then stored for searching at a more convenient time.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Search strategy assessment tool. The tool was developed after review of clinical questions and search results.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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