Toward an evidence-based medical practice model for Health Science Library services in public and private hospitals within a South African context
Authors:   , Saroj Bala 
Published: May 2021

This study investigates the attitude and opinion of health science librarians toward their qualification and services in support of evidence-based medical practice (EBMP); the attitude and opinion of university academic staff toward the preparedness, training, and qualification of health science librarians to support evidence-based medical practice; and the attitude and opinion of medical practitioners regarding health science library services to support them in evidence-based medical practice by providing the latest and most reliable information related to their practice in public and private hospitals in the eThekwini district, South Africa. The aim of this research was to develop an evidence-based medical practice (EBMP) model for health science library services within a South African context. The objectives of the study were to identify: the types of medical library services and resources available in public and private hospitals in the eThekwini district to support EBMP; medical practitioners’ perceptions, use, and needs regarding the library services in the hospitals in which they are practicing; the role of health science librarians in the hospitals; librarians’ level of training and qualification to support EBMP; training for health science librarians provided by the universities that train librarians in SA; and the barriers faced by health science librarians supporting EBMP. The target population for this study was medical practitioners from public and private hospitals, health science librarians of the eThekwini district, South Africa, and academic staff at universities and universities of technology that offer a qualification in Library and information Science (LIS). In other words, they train librarians in SA. To achieve the aim of the study, a survey was conducted. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected via open-ended and closed questions on the questionnaires administered to the research participants. The target population for this study was medical practitioners from public and private hospitals, health science librarians of the eThekwini district, South Africa, and academic staff at universities and universities of technology that offer a qualification in Library and information Science (LIS). In other words, they train librarians in SA. To achieve the aim of the study, a survey was conducted. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected via open-ended and closed questions on the questionnaires administered to the research participants. struggle to acquire resources to support EBMP and, hence, there has been no improvement in library services for a long time. Medical practitioners from government and private hospitals require libraries in their hospitals with expert librarians in EBMP. Lack of personal time is the major barrier to medical practitioners using EBMP. Medical practitioners agree that librarians can save their time by assisting them with their research in complicated cases, with research/literature in cases where little is known about a disease or illness, in the case of infectious diseases, and by providing relevant information for individual cases. These findings show that, although the Department of Library and Information Science/Studies at universities in South Africa are not training the librarians to help medical practitioners in EBMP, specifically academic staff members of universities welcomed the idea of training the librarians in EMBP. Such training may be considered in future. Based on the discussion and conclusion, the study recommends that library services should be established in every public and private hospital, with a librarian expert in EBMP. The courses or training related to EBMP should be provided to health science librarians. Health departments should make arrangements for training courses to be offered. The Department of Library and Information Science/Studies should collaborate with health science faculties at the universities in South Africa and offer specialised training in EBMP to library students and librarians.