Contact the interim Librarian Coordintor,
Susan Meadows, with questions about the FPIN Librarian Community.
Membership
How do librarians benefit from participating in FPIN?
At what membership level can a librarian join FPIN?
What qualifications do I need to participate?
How many searches for Clinical Inquiries am I expected to contribute as a member?
How do I join or learn more?
Clinical Inquiries Co-Authorship
Are all librarians listed as co-authors of Clinical Inquiries?
What are the responsibilities of librarian co-authors?
Literature Searching
What is an FPIN search?
How long does a search typically take to run?
What databases do I need to search?
Can I be a member of the FPINLibrarian Community if I lack access to the required databases?
Does FPIN provide training or support on how to conduct an FPIN search?
Search Delivery
Am I required to use the Search Methodology & Sort Form?
How do I upload my search to the FPIN website?
How should I deliver my search results (the actual citations) to the clinician author?
Who retrieves articles from search results?
How do librarians benefit from participating in FPIN?
- Coauthorship on Clinical Inquiries
- Access to published Clinical Inquiries and other resources
- Enhancement of evidence-based search expert skills
- Search mentorship by librarian peers
- Professional development opportunities
- Collaborative opportunities on information systems projects
- New working relationships with family physicians both locally and nationally
At what membership level can a librarian join FPIN?
Librarians may join the FPIN Librarian Community at one of two levels:
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Members of the FPIN Librarian Interest Group join the Librarian Community list-serv, receive periodic updates from the Librarian Coordinator and other FPIN staff, and are invited to the annual meeting during MLA.
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FPIN Librarian Contributors actively participate in community activities such as Clinical Inquiries co-authorship, search filter creation or updates, development of tools to deliver search results to authors, presentations at local/regional/national workshops, or research.
What qualifications do I need to participate?
FPIN has adopted the following FPIN Librarian Community Standard of Search Experience and Education :
FPIN prefers that librarians have . . .
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Two more more years of experience searching electronic databases and Internet resources applicable to FPIN searches, including MEDLINE (use of MeSH vocabulary, publication types, and limits to search strategies).
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A basic understanding of evidence-based medicine.
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Experience performing clinically oriented searches for point-of-care questions.
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A master’s degree in library science.
How many searches for Clinical Inquiries am I expected to contribute as a member?
Ours is an active community. As a general guideline, ibrarians included on the membership roster are asked to contribute by completing at least two searches per year, or otherwise actively participating. Our physician colleagues depend on and look forward to these collaborations. If you have questions about ways in which you may participate in the community other than by serving as a CI co-author, please contact the Librarian Coordinator .
How do I join or learn more about FPIN?
Membership applications are available from the FPIN Librarian Community homepage. Contact the FPIN Librarian Coordinator & Team Leader with questions.
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Are all librarians listed as co-authors of Clinical Inquiries?
In recognition of the critical nature of the literature search and the expertise involved, all FPIN librarians are listed as co-authors on Clinical Inquiries.
What are the responsibilities of librarian co-authors?
Librarians assume primary accountability for the search strategy and results, essential to the CI methodology. Additionally, they are expected to review the entire manuscript , correctly format references, and assume accountability for the content that they feel qualified to address. Librarians are also expected to update searches periodically, and to respond to questions regarding searches. More information about the librarian role as co-author is available here .
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What is an FPIN search?
An FPIN search supports a Clinical Inquiry, which is published in the Journal of Family Practice or the American Family Physician The search, conducted by an expert librarian searcher, covers prescribed databases and uses specific evidence-based medicine MEDLINE search filters (required, according to the search protocol). The clinician author provides essential background information and guidance as to the scope of the topic and search. Search methods and results are recorded in standardized format using the Search Methology & Sort Form available from the Librarian Community homepage .
How long does a search typically take to run?
Initially, the librarian may find that it takes, on average, 5-8 hours to run a full search based upon the search protocol. However, as he/she becomes more familiar with the search process, the search time will probably run between 3 and 4 hours. This estimate does not include time to prepare results for delivery, which will depend upon the degree of sorting necessary and the delivery format selected (Word Documents, webpage with links to results, RefWorks account, etc.). Librarians should also be prepared to review the completed Clinical Inquiry manuscript, and perform an update search, as necessary. Steps are outlined in the Step-by-Step Guide to the Librarian Co-Authorship Process .
What databases do I need to search?
Librarians search databases included in the FPIN search protocol. The protocol includes two tiers of resources. All resources in Tier I are required as part of an FPIN search. Tier II may be searched at the librarian's discretion.
Can I become a member of the FPIN Librarian Community if I lack access to the required databases?
We prefer that librarians have access to all of the required databases. However, we would like to hear from all interested librarians so that we can include them in other aspects of FPIN currently in development. Questions regarding database access can be directed to the Librarian Coordinator .
Does FPIN provide training or support on how to conduct an FPIN search?
A librarian orientation training package is available through the FPIN website. The training package covers how to request a search question; how to run an FPIN search and how to upload the results to the website.
Ovid Training Package
PubMed Training Package
The Librarian Coordinator is available to provide search guidance and mentorship to all librarian members. Additionally, each librarian new to FPIN submits their first three searches to the Librarian Coordinator before officially submitting the search to the clinician author. This formal orientation period gives the librarian time to learn (and ask questions) about FPIN searching and Clinical Inquiries co-authorship, and to adapt his or her own literature searching style to the more formalized FPIN procedures.
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Am I required to use the Search Methodology & Sort Form?
Yes, the Search Methodology & Sort Form is a required element of FPIN's formal search delivery process. The FPIN Librarian Community takes pride in providing literature search results in a meaningful format that enables the clinician author to more effeciently assess the scope of the literature and identify key references. The combination of both structured search and results delivery, and the expertise this entails, is an important part of the co-authorship role and is what sets apart the FPIN expert search from more general literature searches. The form is available for download (MS Word document) from the Librarian Community homepage . An example of a completed form is also available as a PDF.
How do I upload my search to the FPIN website?
When you have completed your search, according to the FPIN Search Protocol, you must upload two documents to the FPIN website. Login to the website, and in the left navigation bar, click on the number/author of your current CI. On the page that opens, you will see the details of your CI and a button to "Submit Search"--click on this button, then "Browse..." to locate the required documents on your computer. When the names of your files appear in the two boxes for "Search Results" (article citations) and "Search Summary" (Search Summary Form), click on "Submit."
The system requires for you to upload both a Results document and a Summary document at the same time. If you have formatted your results in a way other than in a single Word document (see examples of other options below) you may upload for your Results a document stating that you have sent the citations directly to your clinician author. The Search Summary Form is required, and must be completed before your search is accepted. If you have questions or problems with uploading, contact the Librarian Coordinator.
How should I deliver my search results to the clinician author?
The FPIN Librarian Community does not have a required format in which to deliver article citations to clinician authors, but librarians should take care to provide citations in a format that preserves the value of results sorting presented on the Search Summary Form. Some examples are:
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Separate word-processing documents, each with MEDLINE citations from a different study category (meta-analyses, RCTs & clinical Trials, guidelines, etc.).
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Word document with Table of Contents linking to sections of results, following the outline of the Search Summary Form.
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Webpage with links to pre-formulated database searches, including links to full-text from the local library (for librarians and authors at the same institution).
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RefWorks account with folders of citations, grouped according to database and study categories found on the Search Summary Form.
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EndNote library or Reference Manager database with a subject index to display results from each database and MEDLINE study category.
(Please note that you must upload both a Results document and a Summary document (Search Summary Form) to the FPIN website when you have completed your search.
Who retrieves articles from the search results?
Physician authors are responsibile for retrieving articles with which to write their Clinical Inquiry. If they share institional affiliations, librarians are expected to assist authors with obtaining copies of articles and interlibrary loans, in accordance with local library policies. Those authors whose librarian co-authors are at distant institutions should attempt to retrieve articles through local means and will follow rules and incur costs as appropriate. When no viable means of obtaining articles seems available, contact the Librarian Coordinator for assistance.
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