1. An initiative to include literature searching skills in the curriculum in a developing country, with an across the country training initiative
Vasumathi Sriganesh; Parvati Iyer, Dipti Suvarna
QMed Knowledge Foundation

2. BACKGROUND Observation of a medical librarian
Information literacy / search skills training
Absent in the medical curriculum
Minimal in the working environment

3. BACKGROUND Problem “They don’t know what they don’t know”
Those who should mandate do not know

4. OUR FOUNDATION QMed Knowledge Foundation: 2007- Mission:
To empower the medical information user

5. TRAINING PROGRAMS
2008: Planned training programs in literature searching
PubMed
Cochrane Library
Other resources
Coverage
Background information about sources
Search tools and features

6. PROGRAM GOALS Participants learn search skills
Use skills in education, research, practice
Impact - Better academic / professional output

7. LONG TERM GOALS Every health science student & professional
Uses good search skills for regular work
Knows when to take an information professional’s help for special needs

8. PROGRAM PLAN
Started with PubMed
Basics
Advanced

9. PROGRAM PLAN PubMed – Basics – Coverage Structure of a record
Field search
Boolean operators
Display settings
Send to
Mesh search
Limits
Journal database
Single Citation Matcher

10. PROGRAM PLAN PubMed – Advanced – Coverage Mesh in more detail My NCBI
Filters
Batch citation matcher
Clinical Queries

11. PROGRAM PLAN Cochrane Library Six databases – scope
Explanation of a Cochrane Review
Simple search
Advanced search
Mesh search
Saving a search
History

12. PROGRAMS From 2008 – till date Nearly 90 lectures  3000 participants
Nearly 90 workshops  2500 participants

13. PROGRAMS From the first – we asked a question:
“Do you think this should be made mandatory in the curriculum”

14. Should this program (literature searching) be part of the curriculum
PROGRAMS
Answer
About 95% said “YES”!
Should this program (literature searching) be part of the curriculum
Yes No
Not sure
No answer
Total
1182 6 51 13
1252(Nos)
94.5
0.5 4 1
100 (%)

15. PROGRAM Also Assessments showed
Approx 80-85% new learning for most participants

16. STATUS TODAY In four years
We are an integral part of some regular external programs
Increasing requests for our programs
“Before formal feedback” – receive suggestions to include in curriculum

17. PROGRAM PLANS: ONLINE / ELEARNING
Currently – Free web based introductory courses:
Introduction – literature searching
Introduction – medical writing
Courses with paid access
PubMed Basics
Going ahead – Using Moodle
Free
Access for “Friends in Need” with small donations

18. STATUS TODAY First step Next Then
Applied for “Credit points” for our program
Next
Create E-learning modules
Create “Train the trainer” programs
Then
Armed with feedback and accreditation – approach the Medical Council of India for inclusion in the syllabus

19. FUNDING Status today Going ahead “Managed” till now!
Waiting for a nod from one funding body
Going ahead
Self funding through online programs

20. CONCLUSION Problem identified Programs conducted – 4 years With
Feedback and statistics
Accreditation
Online modules
Train the trainer availability
Expect inclusion in the curriculum very soon.

23. QMed Knowledge Foundation www.qmedkf.org.in Mumbai, India