Highlights of the 2012 NN/LM PSR Learning Needs Assessment Survey!
We would like to thank everyone who participated in our 2012 Learning Needs Assessment Survey! More than 200 responses were received, and it is very encouraging to see such strong interest in staying abreast of the emerging areas in our rapidly changing field! Your passion was clearly evident regarding such topics as implementing cultures of evidence-based medicine in your institutions, cultivating health literacy with patrons, and assisting researchers with informatics, scholarly communication, and data curation.
Following are a few key findings from the survey results, which we will utilize as we plan upcoming trainings and other events.
Member Librarian Experience
The majority of survey respondents had more than 16 years of experience working with health information resources and services. Despite this wealth of experience, there is always something more to learn!
National Library of Medicine Resources and Databases
Many respondents were interested in honing their skills with PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, and NLM Drug Information. Our next Midday at the Oasis Webinar, on July 18, 1-2pm PDT, will cover the ClinicalTrials.gov results database in detail. Click the chart to see a bigger version of the NLM resources and databases results.
Subject-Specific Trainings
Mobile Applications and Sites are very popular topics, as are health statistics and teaching with technology. Other suggestions for training and Midday sessions included comparative effectiveness research, EHRs (electronic health records), translational medicine and embedded librarianship. Click the chart to see a bigger version of the Subject Specific Trainings results.
Symposia and Classes
The majority of respondents expressed interest in more in-depth training related to Evidence-Based Practice. We recently sponsored the symposium, Information Treasure Hunt: Supporting Evidence-Based Medicine @ Your Institution, featuring Connie Schardt, and we plan to host similar trainings and symposia in the future. Click the chart to see a bigger version of the Symposia and Classes results.
Distance Based Trainings
Many survey respondents expressed interest in more distance learning classes, since it is often prohibitively expensive and time consuming to travel to in-person trainings. We attempt to regularly offer distance based training sessions on relevant topics.
Training Barriers
A lack of continuing education credits does not seem to deter people from attending trainings. The major barriers reported for taking in-person classes are travel distance, cost, and time away from work. For distance learning courses, the top barriers are cost and lack of interest in the topic. However, many respondents did not perceive any barriers with distance learning. These findings are similar to the responses from the NN/LM PSR learning needs assessment conducted in 2009.
Single Most Valuable Professional Educational Activity
We continue to ask this question, borrowed from our former NN/LM Pacific Northwest Region colleague, Maryanne Blake, because it shows us what you value in terms of educational experience. It also makes for interesting reading! Comments ranged from MLA conferences and webinars, PSR classes such as Health and Wellness and PubMed training, and interesting workshops such as Statistical Literacy for Librarians and copyright. The previously mentioned full-day symposium featuring Connie Schardt, held in March, 2012 was also frequently mentioned!
Future Trainings
Survey respondents expressed interest in staying at the cusp of emerging trends in Evidence-Based Medicine, Electronic Health Records, Mobile Technology, Health Literacy Outreach, Research Study Design, E-Science, and Data Curation. We are looking forward to the opportunity to equip PSR Network members with skills and expertise in these new areas, as we offer numerous educational opportunities during the remaining years of our current five-year contract!
