Browsing by Author "Vaska, M."

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    Evaluating the Impact of a Hospital Library Literature Search Survey
    (Canadian Health Libraries Association (CHLA/ABSC), 2014-06) Hurrell, C.; Lin, Y.; Aitken, E.; Vaska, M.
    Introduction: This poster describes the results of a survey that measured the impact of a hospital library literature search service. The searches were performed by a network of librarians and information specialists for clients (including clinicians, clinical researchers, educators, and administrators) in one zone of a provincial health authority between 2010 and 2013. Methods: We used a five-question, web-based survey to assess clients’ perception of the usefulness and effectiveness of the literature search service. The survey included questions about how clients used the information in their practice or research, as well as how the service could be improved. A request to complete the survey was sent to clients two weeks after they received their literature search results. Results: We received 406 responses to the survey during the evaluation period. 98% of respondents reported that the literature search results had been helpful, and 92% reported that they used the information in practice or research. The most common uses for the information included: research and teaching; development of policies, programs, or guidelines; and patient care. Suggestions for improving the service included reducing the amount or breadth of literature retrieved, enhancing access to full text articles, and improving search strategies used in the literature search. Discussion: Web-based surveys can be a useful way to gather information on client satisfaction with, and use of, a literature search service. Besides demonstrating the value of this service to clients in a health authority, the survey results are influencing our ongoing quality improvement and evaluation efforts.
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    Who Benefits from Psychosocial Interventions in Oncology? A Systematic Review of Psychological Moderators of Treatment Outcome
    (Springer, 2012-12) Tamagawa, R.; Garland, S.; Vaska, M.; Carlson, L.
    Medical and demographic characteristics and psychological morbidity of individuals with cancer prior to a psychosocial intervention can influence the efficacy of interventions. However, little is known about the moderating role of patients’ psychosocial characteristics on intervention effects. This review sought to identify and synthesize the impacts of psychosocial moderators of the effect of psychosocial interventions on the psychological well-being of cancer patients. A systematic review of the published literature was conducted. Databases searched included PsycINFO, PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection. Randomized controlled studies examining a moderator effect of patients’ psychosocial characteristics other than baseline depression and anxiety levels were included. Of 199 potential papers, a total of 20 studies, involving 3,340 heterogeneous cancer patients are included. Of the 17 potential psychosocial moderators examined in this review, 14 significantly moderated the effects of interventions. Moderators were categorized into personality traits, mental and physical quality of life, social environment, and self-efficacy. Patients with poorer quality of life, interpersonal relationships and sense of control benefitted more from interventions than those who already had adequate resources. Patients with low levels of optimism and neuroticism, high levels of emotional expressiveness, interpersonal sensitivity, and dispositional hypnotizability also showed greater benefits from various interventions. This review adds to the growing literature aimed at personalizing psychosocial cancer treatment by identifying who benefits from which psychosocial interventions.