The National Information Center for Health Services Research (NICHSR) is responsible for developing information services to the research and library communities involved in health services research. Health services research encompasses the difficult is sues of access, quality, and cost of health care. As part of that responsibility, NICHSR has developed a half-day course to introduce librarians to this field. To reach librarians who cannot attend an on-site class, NICHSR has placed the class manual on t heir home page. To reach the NICHSR home page, open URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/about_nlm/organization/library_operations/nichsr/nichsr.html. Select the "Introduction to HSR: Class Manual" whi ch is under "Outreach and Training." The manual provides definitions of health services research, a short history of the field, and descriptions of key players and research issues. Using a brief problem-based format, the manual presents health services re search scenarios that librarians can use to formulate search strategies.
Database instructions follow for HealthSTAR, HSTAT, DIRLINE, and HSRProj. Links extend to other Health Services Research Web sites. The manual also provides descriptions of basic study designs to support the librarian's role in evidence-based research projects.
Comments on this manual are greatly appreciated. You can send messages from the Web page or call NICHSR at 301-496- 0176.