ICML 2009: Meeting Room 1 Session 5

Theme: Health Informatics

Time: 10.45-12.15
Date: Wednesday 2nd September 2009
Chair: Bronia Renison

Why oh why HI? Using clinical audit to teach Health Informatics
Mary Newman, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand

Mary Newman is currently a Reference Librarian at the Wellington Medical Library, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand. She has also tutored and co-ordinated a Health Informatics course for undergraduate medical students.

Abstract:
Teaching Health Informatics to undergraduate medical students requires approaches that make informatics relevant to students’ learning and clinical practice. Health Informatics has been taught for 10 years to undergraduates at the University of Otago, Wellington by clinicians and librarians. In the last 2 years an innovative approach to teaching informatics skills has been adopted using a clinical audit project, which is integrated with students’ clinical learning. The audit projects have been conducted in a Methadone clinic and in a hospital setting where the students audit the adequacy and completeness of the neurological and mental status examinations. Students collect and analyse data using Microsoft Access, use electronic patient records, conduct a literature search and present their findings as a report and orally. This paper will outline the curriculum, course objectives, teaching and learning activities and discuss students’ learning, lessons learned, and future directions.

Development of China Disease Knowledge Total Database
Wenju Zhang, Medical Library of Chinese People's Liberation Army, China
Youxiang Zhan, Medical Library of Chinese People's Liberation Army, China

Mr. Zhang was originally trained as a medical librarian, receiving a BA in the early 1980s and MS in late 1980s. He is in charge of Database Research and Development Section in Medical Library of Chinese People’s Liberation Army. He is now the Editor in Chief of Chinese Journal of Medical Library and Information Science. Mr. Zhang is the Secretary General of China Hospital Library Association, and a Member of Council of Library Society of China. In 2005, he began to be a Standing Committee Member of IFLA Health Section.

Abstract:
Aims: This paper is to present China Disease Knowledge Total Database (CDD) developed by Medical Library of Chinese PLA and establish a Chinese version of clinical content database. The objective is to enable clinicians and medical students to apply principles of clinical medicine to their daily professional practice and to provide an easy access to data. The feature of CDD is to effectively combine medical knowledge from books and knowledge of evidence-based medicine from journals.

Methods: Criteria of selection of material were made, reference scanned and experts consulted. Extracts were made and results summarized. CDD provides a textbook-like index and searching terms based on ICD-10. It also provides definitions for all items with feature of subject specific hyperlinks to information resources and full text in PDF format.

Results: CDD began to be developed in 2006 and continually refined to reflect changing clinical standards. CDD is a cross-referenced index of 7,000 human diseases, 5,500 kinds of drugs and medications, 1,300 laboratory findings, and 80,000 entries of evidence-based medicine material. An evaluation of this outcome is appreciated and the system was reasonably well received by both health-care professionals from hospitals and students from universities. The use of CDD through Internet for searching health-care related information has been shown to improve learning outcomes. Difficulties of ensuring different users with adequate access to Internet still exist.

Conclusions: CDD is considered a reform project in the field of diseases and drugs and it is hoped that it will be changing Chinese readers’ information searching behavior.

Evaluating electronic databases: Experiences from the OTseeker evidence database
Dr Sally Bennett, Division of Occupational Therapy, The University of Queensland Australia

Dr Sally Bennett currently teaches in the Division of Occupational Therapy at The University of Queensland, Australia and manages the OTseeker database. She has designed an evidence-based practice curriculum and taught evidence-based practice to occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech pathology students for eight years. She has many publications in this area including her PhD. She helped establish and maintain the OTseeker database that contains citations of systematic reviews and critically appraised randomised controlled trials relevant to occupational therapy. She is active in both national and international professional committees as an advisor on evidence-based practice and is a member of the Critically Appraised Papers Advisory Board for the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal.

Abstract:
TBA

Transforming the Computers & Medical Information Elective
Gale G Hannigan, Texas A&M University, United States

Born in New York City. Graduated with honors from the University of California at Berkeley in 1973 with majors in English & Philosophy. Received Masters in Library & Information Studies from UC Berkeley School of Library & Information Studies in 1977 and Masters in Public Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston in 1982. Completed the Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Information Science at the University of North Texas in 2000. Worked as an interne at the United Nations Development Programme and has held professional positions at the Houston Academy of Medicine/Texas Medical Center Library, the University of Minnesota Bio-Medical Library, The Upjohn Company Medical Library Services, and Texas A&M University Medical Sciences Library. Professor, Texas A&M University Libraries with joint appointments in the College of Medicine and School of Rural Public Health. Taught Research Methods at the University of Texas Graduate School of Library and Information Science and currently teaches Introduction to Health Sciences Information Management at the University of North Texas School of Library and Information Sciences. Has published in the field of medical informatics and medical education.

Abstract:
Objective: The Computers & Medical Information Elective is a 1, 2, or 3-week elective with the goals to: 1) demonstrate use of computer technology, systems, and electronic resources for medical information management; 2) assess and improve personal computer skills in preparation for residency; and 3) have fun exploring new technologies. The objective of this presentation is to describe the evolution of a popular 4th-year elective from a teacher-directed, onsite experience to a student-directed learning experience delivered and managed online.

Methods: The course management system, Blackboard Vista and earlier versions, became an efficient method for delivering those modules that were formatted as guided exercises. Over time, it was apparent that students selected these modules in preference to those that required being on campus and/or meeting with a faculty member. As of 2007, most modules were available in the Blackboard Vista system. As of 2008, all students’ work is submitted electronically as well.

Results: Approximately 75% of fourth-year students enroll in the elective. It has the reputation of being flexible and useful and can be completed anywhere there is an Internet connection. Allowing students to submit their work electronically reduces paperwork and improves the instructor’s ability to manage the course. The formatted, modular organization of the course allows for consistency in format and makes it easy to remove outdated modules and add new ones.

Conclusion: An elective begun in 1992 continues to evolve in content, delivery, and management.