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AbstractSmartphones have become synonymous with modern living, providing users with countless apps to perform endless functions. Harnessing mobile technology to help caregivers of Alzheimer’s Disease patients offers users tools and resources to engage, organize and lessen the stress of caregiving. Medical Librarians, healthcare professionals, family and friends can all benefit from learning about four popular Alzheimer’s Disease caregiver apps to enable them to provide thoughtful recommendations to implement their use in caregivers’ daily lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately, 10% of people report a penicillin allergy; however, more than 90% can safely undergo delabeling after a detailed history, oral challenge, or other investigations such as penicillin skin testing (PST). Although PST is the gold standard, the results can be heterogeneous, and awaiting specialist assessment may take an inordinate amount of time. Therefore, oral provocation challenge has become acceptable for individuals with low-risk penicillin allergy histories. There also appears to be an association with increased prevalence of adverse drug reaction reporting in female individuals, which may translate to penicillin allergy prevalence; however, the evidence has not been assessed through a sex and gender lens. This systematic review will identify and synthesize the findings from studies that report measures of effectiveness and safety of interventions aimed at delabeling penicillin allergies in low-risk individuals. Information related to sex and gender will be extracted, where available, to understand potential differences in allergy reporting and patient outcomes. Methods: The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the Centre for Review and Dissemination's Guidance for Undertaking Reviews in Health Care will be used as frameworks for conducting this systematic review. The literature search will be conducted by a medical librarian (B. M. M.) and will consist of a search strategy to identify and retrieve published studies that meet our inclusion criteria. Studies that require penicillin skin testing (PST) as a step prior to other interventions will be excluded. Integrated knowledge translation involving co-design was carried out for this systematic review protocol creation. Data extraction will be conducted at four levels: (1) study level, (2) patient level, (3) intervention level, and (4) outcome level. A narrative descriptive synthesis of results and risk of bias of all included studies will be provided, and, if relevant, a meta-analysis will be performed. Discussion: The dissemination of findings from this knowledge synthesis to various stakeholders is intended to inform on options for evidence-based interventions to aid in delabeling penicillin allergies in individuals with a low risk of experiencing a hypersensitivity reaction. Detailed reporting on the characteristics of delabeling interventions as well as the effectiveness of similar interventions will benefit policy makers considering the implementation of a penicillin allergy delabeling protocol. Additionally, findings from this systematic review will report on the current evidence regarding the role of sex and gender in both the prevalence and outcomes associated with the presence of penicillin allergies. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42022336457. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The authors conducted meta-analyses regarding the association between cellular and mobile phone use and brain tumor development by applying various radiofrequency-electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) exposure subcategories. With changing patterns of mobile phone use and rapidly developing Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) technology (such as Bluetooth), this study will provide insight into the importance of more precise exposure subcategories for RF-EMR. Methods: The medical librarian searched MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library until 16 December 2020. Results: In these meta-analyses, 19 case-control studies and five cohort studies were included. Ipsilateral users reported a pooled odds ratio (OR) of 1.40 (95% CI 1.21–1.62) compared to non-regular users. Users with years of use over 10 years reported a pooled OR of 1.27 (95% CI 1.08–1.48). When stratified by each type of brain tumor, only meningioma (OR 1.20 (95% CI 1.04–1.39)), glioma (OR 1.45 (95% CI 1.16–1.82)), and malignant brain tumors (OR 1.93 (95% CI 1.55–2.39)) showed an increased OR with statistical significance for ipsilateral users. For users with years of use over 10 years, only glioma (OR 1.32 (95% CI 1.01–1.71)) showed an increased OR with statistical significance. When 11 studies with an OR with cumulative hours of use over 896 h were synthesized, the pooled OR was 1.59 (95% CI 1.25–2.02). When stratified by each type of brain tumor, glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma reported the pooled OR of 1.66 (95% CI 1.13–2.44), 1.29 (95% CI 1.08–1.54), and 1.84 (95% CI 0.78–4.37), respectively. For each individual study that considered cumulative hours of use, the highest OR for glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma was 2.89 (1.41–5.93) (both side use, > 896 h), 2.57 (1.02–6.44) (both side use, > 896 h), and 3.53 (1.59–7.82) (ipsilateral use, > 1640 h), respectively. For five cohort studies, the pooled risk ratios (RRs) for all CNS tumors, glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma, were statistically equivocal, respectively. However, the point estimates for acoustic neuroma showed a rather increased pooled RR for ever-use (1.26) and over 10 years of use (1.61) compared to never-use, respectively. Discussion: In this meta-analysis, as the exposure subcategory used became more concrete, the pooled ORs demonstrated higher values with statistical significance. Although the meta-analysis of cohort studies yielded statistically inconclusive pooled effect estimates, (i) as the number of studies included grows and (ii) as the applied exposure subcategories become more concrete, the pooled RRs could show a different aspect in future research. Additionally, future studies should thoroughly account for changing patterns in mobile phone use and the growing use of earphones or headphones with WPAN technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the impact of non-librarian leadership on hospital libraries, focusing on the perspectives of hospital librarians working under such management. Topics include the strengths and weaknesses of having non-librarian directors, opportunities and threats for hospital libraries under non-librarian leadership, and insights from a survey of hospital librarians.

Research Data Management (RDM) skills encompass a set of abilities needed for RDM services. This study sought to assess the RDM skills of health librarians in Nigeria that can enable the provision of RDM services in health libraries. Employing the descriptive survey method, data was collected using a questionnaire adapted from Federer (2018). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Among other findings, the results showed that, health librarians are inadequately skilled in RDM. Although they have adequate library and personal skills, these are not enough for rendering RDM services in health libraries in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This systematic review represents a significant contribution to the field as it is the first comprehensive review in Latin America that addresses the influence of masculinity stigma on the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. • One of the unique strengths of this review is its ability to gather and synthesize dozens of studies that were previously published only in Portuguese or Spanish, effectively summarizing and connecting these findings with the international literature. • It highlights the impact of cultural beliefs, gender norms, and social expectations on the stigmatization of prostate cancer, particularly related to notions of masculinity such as strength and invulnerability. • The review addresses the influence of machismo culture and religious/spiritual beliefs, which further complicate the challenges faced by individuals with prostate cancer and hinder open communication about the disease. • By identifying these sociocultural factors, the review contributes to a better understanding of the experiences and obstacles encountered by prostate cancer patients in Latin America. This review examines the impact of masculinity stigma on the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic prostate cancer, particularly in Latin America. It aims to provide insights into the influence of masculinity stigma on patient outcomes and inform strategies to address this issue. A comprehensive search was conducted in electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL and LILACS) using relevant keywords and controlled vocabulary related to metastatic prostate cancer, masculinity, stigma, diagnosis, and treatment up to April 2023. The search strategy was developed in consultation with a medical librarian to ensure its comprehensiveness. Thirty-three studies that investigate the role of masculinity stigma in the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic prostate cancer were included. Our findings highlight the unique sociocultural influences in Latin America that shape prostate cancer stigma. It emphasizes the impact of cultural beliefs, gender norms, and social expectations on stigma. Notions of masculinity, such as strength and invulnerability, contribute to the stigmatization of prostate cancer. Machismo culture and religious/spiritual beliefs further compound the challenges and hinder open communication about the disease. Cultural taboos, limited awareness, and misconceptions perpetuate the stigma. These sociocultural factors shape the experiences and challenges faced by individuals with and at risk of prostate cancer in Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Umeclidinium plus vilanterol (UMEC/VI) is an inhaled long-acting muscarinic antagonist/long-acting beta2-agonist (LAMA/LABA), recently approved as once-daily maintenance therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This meta-analysis aims to assess the efficacy and safety of UMEC/VI compared with fluticasone propionate plus salmeterol (FP/SAL). Methods A systematic search was conducted by a trained medical research librarian across MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) for randomized controlled trials comparing UMEC/VI with FP/SAL in COPD patients. Two reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias and extracted data. The primary outcome was 0–24 h weighted mean (wm) forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), trough FEV1. The secondary outcomes were other lung functions, symptoms, quality of life, and safety. Results Three studies with 2119 patients were included in the meta-analysis. UMEC/VI showed improvement in 0–24 h wm FEV1 (mean difference (MD) 0.08 L, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.06 to 0.10, P  < 0.01, moderate quality) and trough FEV1 (MD 0.09 L, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.11, P  < 0.01, moderate quality) in comparison with FP/SAL. UMEC/VI statistically significantly improved all other lung functions compared with FP/SAL. However, there were no significant differences between UMEC/VI and FP/SAL in rescue-medication use, symptomatic endpoints, and health outcomes. UMEC/VI also demonstrated fewer drug-related adverse effects (risk ratio 0.47, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.82, P  = 0.01, low quality). Conclusions UMEC/VI, when compared with FP/SAL, demonstrated significant improvements in lung functions with fewer drug-related adverse effects. However, the conclusion was limited by the scarcity of studies and long-term trials. Key message What is already known on this topic Recent trials have demonstrated that umeclidinium/vilanterol boasts a favorable safety profile and delivers notable and sustained enhancements in lung function. However, there has been no definitive conclusion regarding the comparative efficacy of UMEC/VI versus FP/SAL. What this study adds This research not only evaluates the efficacy of UMEC/VI compared with FP/SAL on lung functions but also delves into its impact on symptomatic endpoints, health outcomes, and safety measures. How this study might affect research, practice or policy Given the potential advantages offered by UMEC/VI, we advocate for its utilization in COPD treatment and anticipate that forthcoming long-term trials will place emphasis on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes. Registration number CRD42021249409 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE Meeting scholarly activity requirements continues to be a challenge in many family medicine (FM) residency programs. Studies comprehensively describing FM resident scholarship have been limited. We sought to identify institutional factors associated with increased scholarly output and meeting requirements of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). OBJECTIVES Our goals were to: (1) describe scholarly activity experiences among FM residents compared with ACGME requirements; (2) classify experiences by Boyer’s domains of scholarship; and (3) associate experiences with residency program characteristics and scholarly activity infrastructure. METHODS This was a cross-sectional survey. The survey questions were part of an omnibus survey to FM residency program directors conducted by the Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance (CERA). All ACGME-accredited US FM residency program directors, identified by the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors, were sampled. RESULTS Of the 691 eligible program directors, 298 (43%) completed the survey. The respondents reported that 25% or more residents exceeded ACGME minimum output, 17% reported that 25% or more residents published their work, and 50% reported that 25% or more residents delivered conference presentations. Programs exceeding ACGME scholarship requirements exhibit robust infrastructure characterized by access to faculty mentorship, scholarly activity curricula, Institutional Review Board, medical librarian, and statistician. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest the need for codified ACGME requirements for scholarly activity infrastructure to ensure access to resources in FM residency programs. By fostering FM resident engagement in scholarly activity, programs help to create a culture of inquiry, and address discrepancies in funding and output among FM residency programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Pinch grafting has experienced a resurgence in interest in recent years, stemming from its simplicity, safety, and potential in restoring tissue integrity. While historically employed for chronic nonhealing wounds, pinch grafts have shown promise following surgical procedures, particularly those involving the lower extremities. OBJECTIVE To systematically reviewthe literature and present an updated overview of the current applications of pinch grafting. METHODS A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. In collaboration with a medical reference librarian, the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched for studies reporting on the use of pinch grafting from 2000 onward. The references of each included article were also screened. RESULTS Ten articles met final inclusion criteria. In total, 300 patients underwent pinch grafting for treatment of skin ulceration, while an additional 35 cases were performed as an alternative to primary closure following skin cancer resection. Overall, pinch grafting was safe and well tolerated, with minimal adverse outcomes reported. CONCLUSION Pinch grafting is a safe, straightforward, and effective technique to promote the healing of chronic wounds. While the procedure shows early promise in emerging applications within dermatologic surgery, only about 10% of the reported cases involved this indication, reflecting a need for further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately 25 million people in the United States have limited English proficiency. Current developments in orthopaedic surgery, such as the expansion of preoperative education classes or patient-reported outcome collection in response to bundled payment models, may exacerbate language-related barriers. Currently, there are mixed findings of the associations between limited English proficiency and care processes and outcomes, warranting a cross-study synthesis to identify patterns of associations. Questions/purposes: In this systematic review, we asked: Is limited English proficiency associated with (1) differences in clinical care processes, (2) differences in care processes related to patient engagement, and (3) poorer treatment outcomes in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery in English-speaking countries?. Methods: On June 9, 2023, a systematic search of four databases from inception through the search date (PubMed, Ovid Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus) was performed by a medical librarian. Potentially eligible articles were observational studies that examined the association between limited English proficiency and the prespecified categories of outcomes among pediatric and adult patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery or receiving care in an orthopaedic surgery setting. We identified 10,563 records, of which we screened 6966 titles and abstracts after removing duplicates. We reviewed 56 full-text articles and included 29 peer-reviewed studies (outcome categories: eight for clinical care processes, 10 for care processes related to patient engagement, and 15 for treatment outcomes), with a total of 362,746 patients or encounters. We extracted data elements including study characteristics, definition of language exposure, specific outcomes, and study results. The quality of each study was evaluated using adapted Newcastle-Ottawa scales for cohort or crosssectional studies. Most studies had a low (48%) or moderate (45%) risk of bias, but two cross-sectional studies had a high risk of bias. To answer our questions, we synthesized associations and no-difference findings, further stratified by adjusted versus unadjusted estimates, for each category of outcomes. No meta-analysis was performed. Results: There were mixed findings regarding whether limited English proficiency is associated with differences in clinical care processes, with the strongest adjusted associations between non-English versus English as the preferred language and delayed ACL reconstruction surgery and receipt of neuraxial versus general anesthesia for other non-Spanish versus English primary language in patients undergoing THA or TKA. Limited English proficiency was also associated with increased hospitalization costs for THA or TKA but not opioid prescribing in pediatric patients undergoing surgery for fractures. For care processes related to patient engagement, limited English proficiency was consistently associated with decreased patient portal use and decreased completion of patientreported outcome measures per adjusted estimates. The exposure was also associated with decreased virtual visit completion for other non-Spanish versus English language and decreased postoperative opioid refill requests after TKA but not differences in attendance-related outcomes. For treatment outcomes, limited English proficiency was consistently associated with increased hospital length of stay and nonhome discharge per adjusted estimates, but not hospital returns. There were mixed findings regarding associations with increased complications and worse postoperative patient-reported outcome measure scores. Conclusion: Findings specifically suggest the need to remove language-based barriers for patients to engage in care, including for patient portal use and patient-reported outcome measure completion, and to identify mechanisms and solutions for increased postoperative healthcare use. However, interpretations are limited by the heterogeneity of study parameters, including the language exposure. Future research should include more-precise and transparent definitions of limited English proficiency and contextual details on available language-based resources to support quantitative syntheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing whether the use of antipsychotic medications in critically ill adult patients with delirium impacts patient-important outcomes. DATA SOURCES: A medical librarian searched Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, APA PsycInfo, and Wiley's Cochrane Library as well as clinicaltrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform up to November 2023. STUDY SELECTION: Independently and in duplicate, reviewers screened abstracts and titles for eligibility, then full text of qualifying studies. We included parallel-group randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that included critically ill adult patients with delirium. The intervention group was required to receive antipsychotic medications at any dose, whereas the control group received usual care or placebo. DATA EXTRACTION: Reviewers extracted data independently and in duplicate using a piloted abstraction form. Statistical analyses were conducted using RevMan software (version 5.4). DATA SYNTHESIS: Five RCTs (n = 1750) met eligibility criteria. The use of antipsychotic medications compared with placebo did not increase the number of delirium- or coma-free days (mean difference 0.90 d; 95% CI, -0.32 to 2.12; moderate certainty), nor did it result in a difference in mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU, or hospital length of stay. The use of antipsychotics did not result in an increased risk of adverse events (risk ratio 1.27; 95% CI, 0.71-2.30; high certainty). Subgroup analysis of typical versus atypical antipsychotics did not identify any subgroup effect for any outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated with moderate certainty that there is no difference in delirium- or coma-free days when delirious critically ill adults are treated with antipsychotic medications. Further studies in the subset of patients with hyperactive delirium may be of benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Librarians' involvement in Evidence-Based Medical Practice (EBMP) has been widely reported from the Global North. The cross-sectional study designed a survey to investigate how African medical librarians integrate into EBMP. The respondents comprised medical librarians from 12 African countries. Findings revealed that African medical librarians are mostly involved in EBMP activities related to resource use, management, and evidence dissemination. The leading EBMP tools reportedly used or promoted by the librarians include UpToDate and Cochrane Library, while the leading challenges encountered in offering support for EBMP are related to skill deficiency, poor funding, and poor internet connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While medical and health science librarians' median salaries have increased over the last forty years; however, inflation-adjusted salaries are lower than in 2008. Utilizing data from the Medical Library Association's salary surveys from 1983 to 2023, this column explores median salary changes over time by discussing the median salary's performance against inflation and how the 2008 recession and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic impacted salaries. From 2017 to 2023, the median salary increased by 18%, but after adjusting for inflation, the median salary decreased by almost 6%. The findings have serious implications for recruitment and retention in medical and health sciences librarianship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the high-quality literature on the frequency and nature of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) associated with either hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) or chloroquine (CQ). Data sources: We searched Medline, Embase, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and Cochrane Central from 1996 onward using search strategies created in collaboration with medical science librarians. Study selection and data extraction: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English language from January 1996 to September 2022, involving adult patients at least 18 years of age, were selected. Outcomes of interest were death, arrhythmias, syncope, and seizures. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed with a Treatment Arm Continuity Correction for single and double zero event studies. Data synthesis: By study drug, there were 31 HCQ RCTs (n = 6677), 9 CQ RCTs (n = 622), and 1 combined HCQ-CQ trial (n = 105). Mortality was the most commonly reported MACE at 220 of 255 events (86.3%), with no reports of torsades de pointes or sudden cardiac death. There was no increased risk of MACE with exposure to HCQ-CQ compared with control (risk ratio [RR] = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.69-1.17, I 2 = 0%). Relevance to patient care and clinical practice: These findings have important implications with respect to patient reassurance and updated guidance for prescribing practices of these medications. Conclusions: Despite listing as QT-prolonging meds, HCQ-CQ did not increase the risk of MACE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Final year medical students and postgraduate doctors regularly contend with feelings of under-preparedness when transitioning into new areas of clinical practice. This lack of confidence is most evident in the context of on-call work which frequently requires sound clinical prioritisation, rigorous decision making and the management of acutely unwell patients, often with reduced senior support and staffing. This has prompted the emergence of on-call simulation which seeks to enhance participant confidence in performing on-call tasks and facilitate the development of key clinical and non-technical skills. This narrative review examined the use of on-call simulation in medical student and newly qualified doctor cohorts, its effectiveness in achieving its stated outcomes and to identify novel areas for the development of existing models. Method: A search strategy was developed in conjunction with a specialist medical librarian. OVID Medline and Embase searches identified articles related to the use and design of on-call simulation in medical education with no restrictions placed upon date or language of publication. Key findings from articles were summarised to develop comprehensive themes for discussion. Results: Twenty Three unique publications were reviewed which unanimously reported that on-call simulation had a positive effect on self-reported participant confidence in performing on-call roles. Furthermore the value on-call simulation when used as an induction activity was also evident. However, there was limited evidence around improved patient and performance outcomes following simulation. It also remains resource intensive as an educational tool and there is a distinct absence of interprofessional education in current models. Conclusions: We concluded that on-call simulation must adopt an interprofessional educational approach, incorporating other clinical roles. Further studies are needed to characterise the impact on patient outcomes. It remains highly useful as a confidence-boosting induction activity, particularly in specialities where clinical exposure is limited. Virtual and tabletop simulation formats, could potentially address the resource burden of manikin-based models, particularly with ever growing demands on medical educators and the expansion of training posts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Systematic reviews require detailed planning of complex processes which can present logistical challenges. Understanding these logistical challenges can help with planning and execution of tasks Objectives: To describe the perspectives of expert searchers on the main logistical challenges when carrying out supplementary searches for systematic reviews, in particular, forward citation searching and web searching. Methods: Qualitative interviews were undertaken with 15 experts on searching for studies for systematic reviews (e.g. information specialists) working in health and social care research settings. Interviews were undertaken by video‐call between September 2020 and June 2021. Data analysis used thematic network analysis. Results: We identified three logistical challenges of using forward citation searching and web searching which were organised under the global theme of 'tension': time, team and technology. Several subthemes were identified which supported the organising themes, including allocating time, justifying time and keeping to time; reviewer expectations and contact with review teams; and access to resources and reference management. Conclusion: Forward citation searching and web searching are logistically challenging search methods for a systematic review. An understanding of these challenges should encourage expert searchers and review teams to maintain open channels of communication, which should also facilitate improved working relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public libraries are important spaces for families with young children, including those with disabilities. They offer developmental support, learning opportunities, and access to information. However, there is a need for more collaboration between librarians and early childhood professionals to better support children with disabilities and their families. By extending professional partnerships and increasing community awareness, librarians and early childhood professionals can create inclusive environments and tailor services to meet the needs of families with young children with disabilities. Libraries provide physical spaces for play, hands-on activities, and social interaction, and offer various programs that promote fun, learning, and socialization for all children. They also provide access to books and information in different languages and formats for individuals with disabilities. While not every library has all of these offerings, most libraries are committed to serving all members of their communities and are open to partnerships to better meet the needs of individuals with disabilities. [Extracted from the article]

The working group Evidence-Based Medicine (AG-EBM) of the German Medical Library Association (AGMB) celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2024. It continues its work in the years 2023 and 2024 in the form of virtual meetings. The group meeting of the AG-EBM at the annual conference of the AGMB 2024 in Mainz provides an opportunity to get in touch with the group and its members.

The Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editors (APAME) issued the Sydney declaration on predatory or pseudo journals and publishers at their annual meeting in 2024. Predatory journals are defined as those that charge publication fees without providing robust peer review and editorial services. These journals can have a negative impact on clinical practice, health, and careers. The declaration calls for member states, governments, and stakeholders to implement procedures for identifying and dealing with predatory journals and publishers. It also emphasizes the commitment of APAME to educate and empower editors, authors, and publishers to avoid engaging in predatory practices. [Extracted from the article]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the healthcare landscape, including the role of medical libraries. Understanding medical head librarians' perceived AI literacy and its potential impact on work performance is crucial for successful AI integration within medical institutions. This research aims to address this gap in knowledge by investigating the perceived AI literacy and its impact on the work performance of medical head librarians in Pakistan. The research adopted a quantitative survey method, utilizing a census method to approach the medical head librarians in Pakistan. Data collection was conducted through an online questionnaire administered to 124 medical head librarians employed in institutions recognized by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The findings indicated that the medical head librarians displayed high levels of perceived AI literacy and work performance. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that AI literacy had a statistically significant and positive impact on work performance, suggesting that as medical head librarians' AI literacy increases, so does their work performance. These results provide valuable insights for governing bodies of medical institutions, AI developers, and other relevant stakeholders. The outcomes suggest that investing in AI-related training for medical librarians, creating user-friendly AI interfaces, and providing additional support from AI developers could play a crucial role in effectively implementing AI for information management in medical education in Pakistan. This study makes a significant contribution to the existing literature by addressing the paucity of research on AI literacy among medical librarians. Further research could deepen the understanding of AI literacy's impact on work performance and explore the mechanisms driving this relationship, offering additional guidance for policymakers and educators in enhancing AI-related skills among medical librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical librarians participating as infectious disease rounding team members add value by facilitating knowledge acquisition and dissemination and by improving clinical decision making. This pilot study implementing medical librarians on infectious disease rounding teams was a well-received and beneficial intervention to study participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the older adult population increases, hospitals treat more older adults with injuries. After leaving, these patients suffer from decreased mobility and independence, relying on care from others. Family members often assume this responsibility, mostly informally and unpaid. Caregivers of other older adult populations have increased stress and decreased caregiver-related quality of life (CRQoL). Validated CRQoL measures are essential to capture their unique experiences. Our objective was to review existing CRQoL measures and their validity in caregivers of older adult trauma patients. A professional librarian searched published literature from the inception of databases through August 12, 2022 in MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase (via Elsevier), and CINAHL Complete (via EBSCO). We identified 1063 unique studies of CRQoL in caregivers for adults with injury and performed a systematic review following COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments guidelines for CRQoL measures. From the 66 studies included, we identified 54 health-related quality-of-life measures and 60 domains capturing caregiver-centered concerns. The majority (83%) of measures included six or fewer CRQoL content domains. Six measures were used in caregivers of older adults with single-system injuries. There were no validated CRQoL measures among caregivers of older adult trauma patients with multisystem injuries. While many measures exist to assess healthcare-related quality of life, few, if any, adequately assess concerns among caregivers of older adult trauma patients. We found that CRQoL domains, including mental health, emotional health, social functioning, and relationships, are most commonly assessed among caregivers. Future measures should focus on reliability and validity in this specific population to guide interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Clinical Practice Guideline addresses severe frostbite treatment. We defined severe frostbite as atmospheric cooling that results in a perfusion deficit to the extremities. We limited our review to adults and excluded cold contact or rapid freeze injuries that resulted in isolated devitalized tissue. After developing population, intervention, comparator, outcomes (PICO) questions, a comprehensive literature search was conducted with the help of a professional medical librarian. Available literature was reviewed and systematically evaluated. Recommendations based on the available scientific evidence were formulated through consensus of a multidisciplinary committee. We conditionally recommend the use of rapid rewarming in a 38 to 42°C water bath and the use of thrombolytics for fewer amputations and/or a more distal level of amputation. We conditionally recommend the use of "early" administration of thrombolytics (≤12 hours from rewarming) compared to "later" administration of thrombolytics for fewer amputations and/or a more distal level of amputation. No recommendation could be formed on the use of vascular imaging studies to determine the use of and/or the time to initiate thrombolytic therapy. No recommendation could be formed on the use of intravenous thrombolytics compared to the use of intra-arterial thrombolytics on fewer amputations and/or a more distal level of amputation. No recommendation could be formed on the use of iloprost resulting in fewer amputations and/or more distal levels of amputation. No recommendation could be formed on the use of diagnostic imaging modalities for surgical planning on fewer amputations, a more distal level of amputation, or earlier timing of amputation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the theoretical aspects of Bradford's Law and Leimkuhler Model, their relevance across subject areas, their implementation forms, and their significance in Indian cancer research literature. The study analyzes 16,914 research papers published in 2,277 journals on cancer research in India between 2012 and 2021, sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection database. The total number of citations obtained from these papers is 378,409, and a ranking table of journals and their citations is provided. The first phase of the study applies Bradford's Law in verbal and algebraic forms to identify the journal distribution pattern, revealing a high percentage of error. The Leimkuhler Model estimates the number of journals in the core and successive zones, resulting in a minor percentage error of 0.00030171278%. The study identifies the International Journal of Cancer and PLoS One as core journals, emphasizing their importance in Indian cancer research. The findings can benefit oncologists, researchers, practitioners, and medical librarians in understanding scientific literature distribution and promoting research output effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the efficacy of physical therapy (PT) to alleviate symptomatic thoracic radiculopathy (TR) without the use of invasive procedures. Database search was conducted by an experienced medical librarian from inception until January 27, 2023, in EBSCO CINAHL with Full Text, Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection. Inclusion criteria included studies that involved adult patients (age≥18) who had a magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed TR and underwent a structured, supervised PT program of any length. All types of studies were included. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Study Quality of Assessment Tool. Certainty in evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. A meta-analysis was not performed. A total of 1,491 studies were screened and 7 studies met inclusion criteria, 5 case studies and 2 cohort studies. All studies showed improvement or resolution of the TR with PT. Quantitative improvements were not noted in most studies and PT regimens were sparsely described. Overall quality assessment demonstrated 3 studies had "good," 1 "fair," and 3 "poor" quality evidence. Certainty of evidence was "low" due to risk of bias. A dedicated PT program may help to alleviate symptomatic TR; however due to limited evidence, risk of bias, and low certainty in evidence, the data is too weak to support a definite conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a hospital librarian-led interprofessional online journal club, detailing the steps taken to conduct the club, including recruiting participants, selecting articles and choosing formats for sessions. Topics include the theoretical framework of social constructivism in learning; the process of obtaining institutional review board (IRB) approval; and reflections on the club's effectiveness and potential improvements for future sessions.

The aim of this research was to analyze the contemporary practices of Big Data Analytics (BDA) in medical libraries of Pakistan and to explore ways for its implementation in these libraries. A cross-sectional study was carried out among medical librarians in Pakistan by using a Modified Technology Acceptance Model (MTAM) model, with collected data analyzed using Smart-PLS. The results revealed that lack of resources, technical expertise, and some other factors were significant hurdles in smooth implementation of BDA. It is concluded that the perception of medical librarians about adoption of BDA is very encouraging, which resultantly will improve the quality of healthcare services in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firearm injury poses a significant public health burden in the United States. The purpose of this systematic review was to provide a comprehensive accounting of the medical costs of firearm injuries in the United States. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify studies published between January 1, 2000 and July 13, 2022 that reported medical costs of firearm injuries. A search of Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library databases was performed by a medical librarian. The National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies was used to evaluate for risk of bias. Health care-related charges and costs per firearm injury were presented and trends were identified. Sixty-four studies were included in the analysis. Study sample sizes ranged from 18 to 868,483 patients. Reported costs per injury ranged from $261 to $529,609. The median cost reported was $27,820 (interquartile range [IQR] $15,133–$40,124) and median charge reported was $53,832 (IQR $38,890–$98,632). Studies that divided initial hospitalization costs and follow-up medical costs identified that initial hospitalization accounts for about 60% of total costs. We found a significant volume of literature about the medical costs of firearm injury, which identified a highly heterogeneous cost burden. A significant amount of cost burden occurs after the index hospitalization, which is the only cost reported in most studies. Limitations of this study include reporting bias that favors hospitalized patients as well as a large focus on hospital charges as measurements of cost identified in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many types of libraries and all of them struggle to a greater or lesser extent with the issue of staff recruitment and development. With the involvement of colleagues from four hospital libraries, this article examines the question of how new staff is recruited. What requirements have medical librarians to meet? What skills and qualifications do applicants need to have and which can be acquired on the job? How are suitable applicants made aware of the announced positions and how can the employee be retained in the long term once the position has been successfully filled? The article takes a closer look at these and other questions, presents best practices and shows possible strategies for recruiting and developing staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Medical Librarian's Bibliography 2023 lists all articles from GMS Medizin – Bibliothek – Information. In addition, articles with significance for medical librarianship published in journals in the field of library science are recorded: Bibliothek Forschung und Praxis, Bibliotheksdienst, B.I.T. Online, BuB: Forum Bibliothek und Information, Information – Wissenschaft und Praxis (IWP), Journal of EAHIL (European Association for Health Information and Libraries). The Medical Librarian's Bibliography 2023 also lists selected articles relevant to medical librarians from Diabetes-Journal, Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, and Research Synthesis Methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the role of medical libraries, particularly in North East India, during public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It emphasizes the importance of library professionals adopting effective management functions, including planning, organizing, leading, and controlling, to address deficiencies in areas such as library building, staff, budget, infrastructure, automation, and collections.

Purpose: This study investigated the moderating effect of organizational knowledge management performance on the sharing and use of information encountered by serendipity within the organization. Design/methodology/approach: The authors surveyed 274 medical librarians from the top 100 medical schools. Findings: Individual information encountering predicted information encountering at work, which, in turn, predicted organizational sharing of encountered information. When the propensity to encounter information was high, then organizational knowledge management performance moderated the effect between organizational encountering and organizational sharing of information. Encountered information at work was only present when high organizational knowledge management performance was in place. Research limitations/implications: This finding helps information behavior researchers discover the transfer of behaviors from everyday life to organizational environments. Practical implications: It shows the need for greater support for information encounterers at work and the role of knowledge management, which may enhance their contribution to the organizational objectives. Originality/value: Information encountering involves finding information by chance. Studies on information encountering have not focused on work settings and if the individual propensity to encounter information translates to organizational settings. Also, the relationship between information encountering and organizational knowledge management has not been studied so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To achieve equitable access to cancer clinical trials (CCTs), patients must overcome structural, clinical, and attitudinal barriers to trial enrollment. The goal of this systematic review was to study the relationship between socioeconomic status(SES), assessed either by direct or proxy measures, and CCT enrollment. Methods: The review team and medical librarian developed search strategies for each database to identify studies for this systematic review, which was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria were as follows: studies published in relevant scientific journals between January 2000 and July 2022, primary sources, English literature, and studies conducted in the US. Sixteen studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. The risk of bias assessment was conducted independently by two reviewers using the Newcastle Ottawa scale. Results: The initial search yielded 4070 citations, and 16 studies were included in our review. Four of the studies included used patient reported annual income as a measure of SES, while the remaining 12 studies used patient zip code as a proxy measurement of SES. Consistent with our hypothesis, 13 studies showed a positive association between high SES (patient-reported or proxy measurement) and CCT enrollment. Two studies showed a negative association, and one study showed no relationship. Conclusions: The existing literature suggests that low SES is associated with lower participation in CCT. The small number of studies identified on this topic highlights the need for additional research on SES and other barriers to CCT participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: The purpose of this document is to define labor and labor arrest and provide recommendations for the management of dystocia in the first and second stage of labor and labor arrest. TARGET POPULATION: Pregnant individuals in the first or second stage of labor. METHODS: This guideline was developed using an a priori protocol in conjunction with a writing team consisting of one maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist appointed by the ACOG Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines-Obstetrics and two external subject matter experts. ACOG medical librarians completed a comprehensive literature search for primary literature within Cochrane Library, Cochrane Collaboration Registry of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, PubMed, and MEDLINE. Studies that moved forward to the full-text screening stage were assessed by the writing team based on standardized inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included studies underwent quality assessment, and a modified GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) evidence-to-decision framework was applied to interpret and translate the evidence into recommendation statements. RECOMMENDATIONS: This Clinical Practice Guideline includes definitions of labor and labor arrest, along with recommendations for the management of dystocia in the first and second stages of labor and labor arrest. Recommendations are classified by strength and evidence quality. Ungraded Good Practice Points are included to provide guidance when a formal recommendation could not be made because of inadequate or nonexistent evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: To provide recommendations for the management of premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, collectively referred to as premenstrual disorders, based on assessment of the evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of available treatment options. An overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of premenstrual disorders also is included to provide readers with relevant background information and context for the clinical recommendations. TARGET POPULATION: Reproductive-aged adults and adolescents with premenstrual symptoms. METHODS: This guideline was developed using an a priori protocol in conjunction with a writing team consisting of two specialists in obstetrics and gynecology appointed by the ACOG Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines–Gynecology and one external subject matter expert. ACOG medical librarians completed a comprehensive literature search for primary literature within Cochrane Library, Cochrane Collaboration Registry of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, PubMed, and MEDLINE. Studies that moved forward to the full-text screening stage were assessed by two authors from the writing team based on standardized inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included studies underwent quality assessment, and a modified GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluations) evidence-to-decision framework was applied to interpret and translate the evidence into recommendation statements. RECOMMENDATIONS: This Clinical Practice Guideline includes recommendations on the following evidence-based treatment options for premenstrual disorders, with an acknowledgement that many patients may benefit from a multimodal approach that combines several interventions: pharmacologic agents (hormonal and nonhormonal), psychological counseling, complementary and alternative treatments, exercise and nutritional therapies, patient education and self-help strategies, and surgical management. Recommendations are classified by strength and evidence quality. Ungraded Good Practice Points are included to provide guidance when a formal recommendation could not be made because of inadequate or nonexistent evidence. Based on review of extrapolated data from adult populations and expert consensus, it was determined that the recommendations also apply to adolescents, with a few exceptions that are noted in the Clinical Practice Guideline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical thinking is one of the most important elements in making the right decision in every profession. Evidence based practice shows potential to empower the critical thinking skills of practitioners. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of evidence-based information management and practice (EBIMP) training course on the promotion of medical librarians' critical thinking. This study is a randomized double-blind educational trial in the form of a parallel trial. A sample of 60 librarians were recruited nationwide in the study through the volunteer enrollment to the evidence-based information management and practice training course. Intervention group received a 10-module virtual course focusing on evidence-based information management. But the control group received a basic course of evidence-based medicine. The courses were delivered through virtual learning system and data was collected through California Standard Critical Thinking Skills Questionnaire Form B (CCTST). Data were analyzed with Covariance Analysis (ANCOVA), Chi-square (χ²), Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Levin tests, and t -test, using SPSS 25. The findings showed that the critical thinking skills of participants after training of the information management and evidence-based practice (EBIMP) had significant improvement in the intervention group compared with the control group regarding the "inference" (4.86 ± 1.94 vs 4.20 ± 1.32), "assessment" (7.90 ± 1.77 vs 5.90 ± 1.70), "Inductive reasoning" (8.67 ± 2.32 vs 6.37 ± 1.87), "deductive reasoning" (6.47 ± 2.04 vs 5.77 ± 1.97) subskills. Education of evidence-based information practice could be effective in promotion of critical thinking skills of medical librarians. This study suggests evidence-based information practice to be added to the curriculum of medical library and information science fields. Trial registration: This study was registered with number 9000.1v1 in Registry of Efficacy and Effectiveness Studies (REES). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this literature review was to summarise the clinical important findings on the endodontic treatment outcome in older patients (≥60 years old) with pulpal/periapical disease considering local and systemic factors from a body of knowledge that is heterogeneous in methods or disciplines. Background: Due to the increasing number of older patients in the endodontic practice, and the current trend for tooth preservation, the need for clinicians to have a better understanding of age‐related implications that may influence the required endodontic treatment in older adults to retain their natural dentition is indispensable. Methods: PubMed/Medline and Embase was searched by a medical librarian using specific terms based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. The reference list was hand‐seached for additional relevant publications between 2005‐2020. A combination of these terms was performed uing Boolean operators and MeSH terms. Results: Of the 1577 publications identified manually and electronically, 25 were included to be fully reviewed by the examiners. The data was derived from three systematic reviews, one systematic and meta‐analysis, three case series, four prospective and 14 retrospective cohorts. Overall, there was heterogeneity in reporting as well as limitations in most studies. Conclusions: The outcome of endodontic treatment (ET) either nonsurgical or surgical or combination of these is not affected by older age. ET can be the treatment of choice in older patients wiht pulpal/periapical disease. There is no evidence that older age per se affects the outcome of any type of endodontic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing diverse author representation within medical librarianship scholarship among BIPOC information professionals is an important endeavor that requires closer examination. This commentary looks to examine the ways in which the profession can support Latinx librarians and library workers in fully participating within the scholarly pipeline by exploring our unique and authentic voices, structural barriers, hesitation and fears, Whiteness in the profession and knowledge production, bias in the peer review process, lack of resources and support, and finally, a call to action.

This historical account reviews the course and lasting impact of Madeline Earle Stanton (1898–1980) in neurosurgery. The writing of this project was sparked by the discovery of original scientific and bibliographical information about Stanton. It is a thorough review of literature on Stanton and reflects the scope and depth of these prior works. Beginning with Madeline Stanton's venture with Dr. Harvey Cushing at Harvard and Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, this project follows the transformation of her role as Cushing's secretary to the secretary of the Medical Historical Library at Yale. Stanton played an integral role in the development of the Yale Medical Historical Library, becoming the librarian of the Historical Collections and remaining a historical consultant after retirement. Stanton served as an assistant and associate editor for the Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences. Stanton's work created an access point to valuable medical literature for the furthering of medical education and development. Our article provides glimpses into the personality of Madeline Stanton and her marked impact on neurosurgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional development, also known as continuing education, is when individuals seek to increase or develop knowledge or skills related to their profession. In a field, such as librarianship that incorporates technology, it is even more important. In health science librarianship, the need for professional development has long been regarded as important in providing quality service. This study's main objective was to determine the preferred professional development method(s) used by health sciences librarians. A survey was developed using Qualtrics and sent out through various listservs used by health sciences librarians and completed by 159 health sciences librarians. Health science librarians answered questions about use and preference as well as rating the resources on how these methods met their professional development needs. The results of this study provide data and insight on which types of professional development health science librarians prefer and which they find most helpful as they become familiar with the nuances that come with serving as a health science librarian. Having a better understanding of the support needed and proven resources can help health sciences librarians on-board to their job sooner and to advocate for future professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An electronic table of contents (eToC) program was implemented by a medical librarian more than 11 years ago at a pediatric hospital (now a clinical and academic health system) with the goal of saving healthcare providers time and assisting them in staying current on the literature in their specific disciplines and/or general medicine. The eToC program still remains a highly popular service with more than 180 clinicians participating. This paper describes the implementation and maintenance of the program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From my 25 years of experience working with Japanese graduate students, my central understanding is that the students know a lot of English as they can read English articles, have good knowledge of English, and do their experiments well. They can also solve problems. First of all, I feel the most critical difficulty in writing any papers for Japanese students is the difficulty in deciding where they need to stop experiments, whether the produced data is enough for a publication, and how to prepare a research manuscript. Therefore, the help of someone who has both research supervision capability and English proficiency is essential for research publication in Japan. In that case, it is easy to handle the English manuscript of graduate students in Japan; I have been working hand in hand with graduate and postgraduate students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This quasi-experimental study aimed to investigate the effect of group bibliotherapy on the self-esteem of blind females. Thirty blind females agreed to participate in the study. They were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Data were collected through the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory. A medical librarian performed an eight-session bibliotherapy intervention in collaboration with a psychological counsellor for the experimental group. After the intervention, the experimental group's self-esteem scores were higher than the control group's (p < 0.05). The mean self-esteem scores in the experimental group after the intervention increased significantly (p < 0.05). The highest percentage increase is related to the family and educational/professional self-esteem subscales. Using bibliotherapy by a team of medical librarians and psychologists to improve the psychological problems of the blind and other people with disabilities is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Health literacy is an important pathway that provides insights into appraise of health information, the ability to search health information, knowledge of caring for the disease and successful practices in health conditions, and also opportunities for effective change in individual health. Health-related quality of life refers to the physical and mental health of an individual or group over time. Both heath literacy and health related quality of life are the priorities of WHO. This study aimed to determine the relationship between health literacy and health-related quality of life among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, refered to Fars MS society, Shiraz-Iran, a developing country. This is a descriptivecorrelational study. Three hundred and nine persons with MS completed two forms: the Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders and Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale validated questionnaires. Health literacy was significantly related to health quality of life in MS patients. The dimensions of health literacy had a significant relationship with health quality of life, and the physical dimension was significantly correlated with health literacy. Among the demographic variables, "source of health information" was most related to heath literacy, and "age" was most related to health quality of life. Thus, holding training classes, communicating with other patients, effective communication with medical staff, using disease-related web facilities, finding correct information in the web environment, and using the facilities of hospital libraries can ensure quality of life of MS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article intends to examine the level of awareness and use of mobile phone applications by medical librarians in university libraries and health centers in Iran. A sample of 35 librarians working in the libraries and hospitals of the University of Medical Sciences was selected by census method. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data, and its validity and reliability were measured. The results showed that the level of knowledge and understanding of medical librarians is increasing based on their information or experiences from mobile applications. Therefore, necessary measures should be taken to facilitate access to these applications in medical libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article concerns a clinical librarian's work as a chief diversity officer to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in healthcare and medical education at an American university. The need for healthcare professionals to have access to resources that can assist them with providing equitable care to all patients grows in tandem with the increasing significance of DEI in healthcare. These resources can only be provided by medical librarians. Medical librarians are uniquely positioned to provide these resources. From a unique perspective, a librarian serving as chief diversity officer for a multi-campus medical school in the United States can help ensure that these resources are culturally responsive and appropriate for diverse patient populations. This article discusses the benefits of appointing a clinical librarian as a chief diversity officer (CDO), promoting and increasing awareness of DEI issues through library resources, and the potential for creating more inclusive healthcare information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This issue focuses on the topic of "Recruiting and developing staff in (medical) libraries" with a particular focus on training and continuing education programs. The issue is supplemented by an article on the TARCiS statement, the Medical Librarian's Bibliography 2023, the report from the AGMB's working group on evidence-based medicine (AG-EBM) and the "German MLA (AGMB) News", as well as a request for support from the editorial board. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]