Informatics: A Primer Mary Lou Klem, PhD, MLIS Health Sciences Library System University of Pittsburgh

What is it? The study and use of information and communication systems Coiera, 2003, pg xxii The field of information science concerned with the analysis and dissemination of data through the application of computers National Library of Medicine (MeSH), 2005 …the interdisciplinary study of the design, application, use and impact of information technology

What is it? The study and use of information and communication systems Coiera, 2003, pg xxii The field of information science concerned with the analysis and dissemination of data through the application of computers National Library of Medicine (MeSH), 2005 …the interdisciplinary study of the design, application, use and impact of information technology

Friedman, et al., 2004 The practice of informatics requires A set of skills derived from the informational and computing sciences

Friedman, et al., 2004 Core Skills

Friedman, et al., 2004 The practice of informatics requires A set of skills derived from the informational and computing sciences Knowledge, experience and activity in one or more application domains or sub domains –Biomedical informatics Bioinformatics Imaging informatics Clinical informatics Public health informatics

Why Now?

Citations in MEDLINE Over Time

As cited in Schoolman & Lindberg, 1988 John Shaw Billings Director, National Library of Medicine 1881 “ The geometric progression of publication in medicine of the last few decades, if continued, would lead to the absurd conclusion that the time would soon come when it would require the services of everyone in the world not engaged in writing to catalogue and index the annual output of medical literature.”

Growth of Molecular Databases Source: Nodal Point Blog Source: nodalpoint.orgnodalpoint.org

How do librarians do informatics?

Helms, et al., 2004 Bioinformatics: Librarian Opportunities Collection development Education and training Communication

Bioinformatics: HSLS Collection development –Site licensing of bioinformatics resources Prevents purchasing of multiple licenses by individual labs or departments within the School of Medicine Estimated cost savings for 2 databases: $200,000

Bioinformatics: HSLS Education and training –Molecular Biology Information Service Introductory workshops on use of molbio software and databases One-to-one consultations Search.HSLS.MolBio

Bioinformatics: HSLS Communication

Bioinformatics: HSLS Communication –Head of MolBio Service: PhD in biochemistry Assistant Information Specialists: PhD in biology or neuroscience Current Assistant has PhD + MLIS

PubMed’s Clinical Queries There are different types of clinical questions –Therapy: does compression bandaging increase the healing of venous leg ulcers compared with no compression? –Prognosis: Does having a stroke increase risk of dementia in older people? There are different types of “best evidence” for answering these different types of questions

“Best Evidence” for Question Type Question TypeBest Evidence TherapyIndividual randomized controlled trials PrognosisIndividual cohort studies or follow-up studies that assess morbidity, mortality or survival

A lit search for best evidence must include: Terminology reflecting the clinical concepts –Venous leg ulcers, compression bandaging –Stroke, dementia, elderly Terminology capturing characteristics of “best evidence” –Randomized controlled trial –Follow-up or cohort study

PubMed Clinical Queries (Haynes, et al) Question TypeMEDLINE Query Therapy “Clinical trial” in Title/Abstract OR clinical trials in MeSH OR clinical trial in Publication Type OR random* in Title/Abstract OR “random allocation” in MeSH OR “therapeutic use” in MeSH Subheading Prognosis Incidence in MeSH OR mortality in MeSH OR follow up studies in MeSH OR prognos* in Title/Abstract OR predict* in Title/Abstract OR course* in Title/Abstract

Summary and Discussion Informatics is about information Librarians can be involved in traditional roles –Collection development –Development of search tools (queries) An opportunity for novel projects and roles –HSLS MolBio Information Services