Which computable biomedical knowledge objects will be regulated? Results of a UK workshop discussing the regulation of knowledge libraries and software as a medical device.

Introduction: To understand when knowledge objects in a computable biomedical knowledge library are likely to be subject to regulation as a medical device in the United Kingdom.

Methods: A briefing paper was circulated to a multi-disciplinary group of 25 including regulators, lawyers and others with insights into device regulation. A 1-day workshop was convened to discuss questions relating to our aim.

NHS knowledge and library services in England in the digital age.

National Health Service (NHS) knowledge and library services in England are integrating digital advances into their systems and services. Health Education England (HEE) leads on the development of NHS library services. A key workstream focuses on (1) improving the infrastructure to enable discovery and management of digital knowledge resources; (2) collaborating with local teams to establish regional library management systems that are integrated with the new national discovery service for healthcare staff and learners.

Becoming business critical: Knowledge for Healthcare.

Significant progress has been made in implementing Knowledge for Healthcare. This editorial reports the central contribution of effective partnerships and the involvement of librarians and knowledge specialists in this work. There are compelling business priorities.

Knowledge for Healthcare: the future of health librarianship.

Many people are still not receiving the right care. It is imperative for health care librarians to come together around a common vision to achieve Knowledge for Healthcare so that the right knowledge and evidence is used at the right time in the right place. The authors describe five workstreams within a modernisation programme: Service Transformation, Workforce Planning and Development, Quality and Impact, Resource Discovery and Optimising Investment.

Demonstrating the positive impact of information support on patient care in primary care: a rapid literature review.

Aim: To review the literature on the positive impact of information services, or information resources, on patient care in primary care.

Objectives: To identify and summarize key papers on which librarians might draw in making the case for investment, and to highlight gaps in the research evidence Methodology: A rapid literature review was conducted in the summer of 2005.

Results: There is a small body of evidence to demonstrate the positive impact of library and information services on the direct care of patients as well as a beneficial impact on the care of future patients through the application of evidence to multiple patients.

The information needs and information seeking behaviour of family doctors.

Aims: To explore the information needs and information seeking behaviour of family doctors, identifying any differences in attitudes and behaviours deriving from membership of a training practice and investigating the impact of a practice librarian.

Methods: A case study of general practitioners (GPs) in Aylesbury Vale incorporated a quantitative study of use of the medical library, and two qualitative techniques, in-depth interviews and group discussions.

Results: A total of 58 GPs, almost three quarters of those in the Vale, participated; 19 via individual interviews and a further 39 via two group discussions.