full conference program - Midwest Chapter MLA

Sunday, October 7 th , Session 1
2:05-2:20 McDonnell Suite
Contributed Papers Abstracts
Integrating Library Instruction into an Evidence-Based Dental Practice Course
Author: Barbara A. Gushrowski, MLS, AHIP, IUSD Library.
Before dental students can engage in evidence-based dental practice (EBDP), they must first understand the core
concepts. The librarian worked with a dental school faculty member to develop a 7-hour EBDP module for first year
dental students. The module is delivered in the first weeks of school and consists of short lectures, small-group
discussions, and in-class exercises. Students are instructed on the rationale for EBDP, characteristics of research design,
sources and levels of evidence, the process of converting information needs into clinical questions, and, ultimately,
searching the medical literature to find the evidence. Students are introduced to the PICO format to formulate clinical
questions then are given patient scenarios to practice developing their own clinical questions. Students receive
instruction in the use of the library’s information resources via eight short videocasts which they view outside of class.
The students complete individual assignments to demonstrate their ability to use the resources to locate information.
The principles introduced in the module are reinforced with additional assignments throughout the summer and fall
semesters in Problem-Based Learning (PBL) small group sessions. The students also complete four assignments
throughout the semester in which they list the information resources used to answer a question, rate the resources, and
reflect on the search process. This module provides the dental students with a foundation on which they can build
expertise in applying EBDP principles first with PBL ‘paper’ patients and ideally, transferring their skills into the clinical
setting.
2:20-2:35 McDonnell Suite
The Evolving Role of the Librarian in a Family Medicine Clerkship
Authors: Anne Beschnett , Jonathan Koffel, and Jim Beattie, Liaison Librarians, Bio-Medical Library, University of
Minnesota.
Objective: To discuss how liaison librarians collaborated with medical faculty to raise the perceived value and
effectiveness of a librarian/faculty-led class and assignment and develop a more involved and appropriate role for the
liaisons in a family medicine rotation for third and fourth year medical students.
Methods: A small group of liaisons at a Midwestern biomedical library have collaborated with Family Medicine faculty
for several years to teach a session on evidence-based practice and health literacy and assess the related assignment.
Feedback from students showed that many felt it was just "another PubMed class" and did not see its value and their
assignments often reflected this lack of interest. To address this, the librarians reviewed the feedback, drafted a
proposed set of changes, and then met with the faculty to review the changes and redesign the didactic portion to focus
more on discussion and problem solving. In addition, they suggested ways to get librarians more involved with the
project assessment and evaluation portion. These changes were summarily accepted by the faculty and put into
practice. The success of the changes was evaluated based on feedback from faculty, students, and librarians and a
review of the quality of submitted assignments.