Collaborative Monitoring and Filtering of Patient-Oriented Research Publications: A Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study

• Published in: The journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association 2018-01, Vol.39 (2), p.112-112
• Main Authors: Granikov, Vera, Bouthillier, France, Tang, David Li, Pluye, Pierre
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Collaboration; Data collection; Information seeking behavior; Mixed methods research; Trends
• ISSN: 1708-6892
• DOI: 10.29173/jchla29379

Introduction: Keeping up-to-date is intrinsic to research, but is challenging due to information overload, time constraints, and insufficient evaluation skills. This is particularly true for Patient-Oriented Research (POR), which is meant to engage researchers, patients, clinicians, and decision-makers (i.e., POR stakeholders), with diverse research experience and skills. Collaboration may provide a solution. Our objective is to explore collaborative monitoring and filtering from the perspective of POR stakeholders. Methods: The project is based on an innovative collaborative research trends monitoring system and will follow an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. A quantitative longitudinal study with system users (POR stakeholders): data will be collected automatically by the system (e.g., number of abstracts read and rated). Descriptive statistics summarizing system usage data will inform a qualitative multiple case study with a purposeful maximum variation sample of participants, until reaching data saturation. Data collection will include semi-structured interviews about participants' experience with collaborative monitoring and filtering, and will be complemented by researcher diary and correspondence with system users. Data will be analyzed using inductive and deductive thematic analysis. Quantitative data will inform qualitative data collection; quantitative and qualitative results will be compared. Results: Two POR communities are using the system; two others are in development. Discussion: The project will advance knowledge regarding the processes and outcomes of collaborative monitoring and filtering of POR trends, important to those providing monitoring services or studying collaborative information behaviour. The findings will contribute to our understanding of current awareness practices and will inform future system design.