Integrating the hospital library with patient care, teaching and research: model and Web 2.0 tools to create a social and collaborative community of clinical research in a hospital setting

Blanca San José Montano, Rafael Garcia Carretero, Manuel Varela Entrecanales, Paz Martin Pozuelo
2010 Health Information and Libraries Journal  
Research in hospital settings faces several difficulties. Information technologies and certain Web 2.0 tools may provide new models to tackle these problems, allowing for a collaborative approach and bridging the gap between clinical practice, teaching and research. Objectives: We aim to gather a community of researchers involved in the development of a network of learning and investigation resources in a hospital setting. Methods: A multi-disciplinary work group analysed the needs of the
more » ... ch community. We studied the opportunities provided by Web 2.0 tools and finally we defined the spaces that would be developed, describing their elements, members and different access levels. Model description: WIKINVESTIGACION is a collaborative web space with the aim of integrating the management of all the hospital's teaching and research resources. It is composed of five spaces, with different access privileges. The spaces are: Research Group Space 'wiki for each individual research group', Learning Resources Centre devoted to the Library, News Space, Forum and Repositories. Conclusions: The Internet, and most notably the Web 2.0 movement, is introducing some overwhelming changes in our society. Research and teaching in the hospital setting will join this current and take advantage of these tools to socialise and improve knowledge management. Key Messages Implications for Practice d Libraries are crucial in a hospital's knowledge management. d Libraries evolve into 'Learning Resources Centres' (LRC) to carry on with its patient-caring, teaching and research tasks. d Wikis promote incremental knowledge harvesting. d Wikinvestigacion is a collaborative web space with the aim of integrating the management of all the hospital's teaching and research resources. Implications for Policy d This model within hospital organisation is a meeting point for research and teaching activities. d Wikinvestigation promoting a web-based manage of knowledge and interconnecting the library with all other collectives. Integrating the hospital library with patient care, teaching and research, Blanca San José Montano et al.
doi:10.1111/j.1471-1842.2010.00893.x pmid:20712716 fatcat:46e2gbvi5vepxnmfydiptmeo5y