Attitudes and opinions of medical practitioners, librarians, and LIS academics towards health science library services to support evidence-based medical practice in South Africa

Abstract

Background This study explores the attitudes and opinions of health science librarians, university academic staff, and medical practitioners towards health science library services to support Evidence-Based Medical Practice (EBMP) in eThekwini, South Africa. It aims to develop an EBMP model for health science library services, focusing on the importance of timely, evidence-based information for quality healthcare. The research also focuses on improving the readiness and qualifications of librarians to support medical practitioners in EBMP implementation. Methodology/Principal Findings A mixed-methods survey was conducted with 251 medical practitioners (31 private and public hospitals), five health science librarians (5 public hospitals), and 24 LIS academic staff (10 South African universities and universities of technology that offer a qualification in Library and Information Science (LIS). Medical practitioners expressed tremendous appreciation for EBMP but identified considerable obstacles, such as time constraints, inadequate access to vital internet resources at their workplace, and excessive patient loads. Medical practitioners agreed that librarians can expedite their research in complex cases by providing pertinent information, yet they expressed significant dissatisfaction with current library services, identifying a deficiency in specialized EBMP support and resources. Health science librarians, though indicated, lacked formal EBMP training and were interested in taking courses or training related to EBMP, a gap reflected in LIS academic curricula, which currently offer no specialized EBMP courses. Conclusions/Significance There is a clear gap between the documented importance of EBMP and the medical library services support available in South African hospitals. The study underscores the imperative for specialized EBMP support services training for librarians, including in LIS education and hospital professional development, alongside a significant investment in contemporary library infrastructure and digital resources. A collaborative framework for health science library services is suggested to augment the use of EBMP, better patient outcomes, and promote a culture of continuous learning.