Clinical librarian support for rapid review of clinical utility of cancer molecular biomarkers

Med Ref Serv Q. 2015;34(2):202-14. doi: 10.1080/02763869.2015.1019758.

Abstract

The clinical librarian used a restricted literature searching and quality-filtering approach to provide relevant clinical evidence for the use of cancer molecular biomarkers by institutional policy makers and clinicians in the rapid review process. The librarian-provided evidence was compared with the cited references in the institutional molecular biomarker algorithm. The overall incorporation rate of the librarian-provided references into the algorithm was above 80%. This study suggests the usefulness of clinical librarian expertise for clinical practice. The searching and filtering methods for high-level evidence can be adopted by information professionals who are involved in the rapid literature review.

Keywords: Cancer; librarian; literature searching; molecular biomarkers; rapid review.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor*
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Humans
  • Information Storage and Retrieval / methods*
  • Librarians*
  • Professional Role*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor