J Med Libr Assoc. 2023 Apr 21;111(1-2):566-578. doi: 10.5195/jmla.2023.1530.
Information professionals have supported medical providers, administrators and decision-makers, and guideline creators in the COVID-19 response. Searching COVID-19 literature presented new challenges, including the volume and heterogeneity of literature and the proliferation of new information sources, and exposed existing issues in metadata and publishing. An expert panel developed best practices, including recommendations, elaborations, and examples, for searching during public health emergencies.
Project directors and advisors developed core elements from experience and literature. Experts, identified by affiliation with evidence synthesis groups, COVID-19 search experience, and nomination, responded to an online survey to reach consensus on core elements. Expert participants provided written responses to guiding questions. A synthesis of responses provided the foundation for focus group discussions. A writing group then drafted the best practices into a statement. Experts reviewed the statement prior to dissemination.
Twelve information professionals contributed to best practice recommendations on six elements: core resources, search strategies, publication types, transparency and reproducibility, collaboration, and conducting research. Underlying principles across recommendations include timeliness, openness, balance, preparedness, and responsiveness.
The authors and experts anticipate the recommendations for searching for evidence during public health emergencies will help information specialists, librarians, evidence synthesis groups, researchers, and decision-makers respond to future public health emergencies, including but not limited to disease outbreaks. The recommendations complement existing guidance by addressing concerns specific to emergency response. The statement is intended as a living document. Future revisions should solicit input from a broader community and reflect conclusions of meta-research on COVID-19 and health emergencies.
信息专业人员在 COVID-19 应对中为医疗服务提供者、管理人员和决策者以及指南制定者提供支持。搜索 COVID-19 文献带来了新的挑战，包括文献的数量和异质性以及新信息源的激增，并暴露了元数据和出版方面的现有问题。一个专家小组为公共卫生紧急情况下的搜索制定了最佳实践，包括建议、阐述和示例。
项目主管和顾问从经验和文献中提炼出核心要素。通过与证据综合小组的隶属关系、COVID-19 搜索经验和提名来确定的专家，对在线调查做出回应，以就核心要素达成共识。专家参与者针对指导问题提供了书面答复。对答复的综合分析为焦点小组讨论提供了基础。然后，一个写作小组将最佳实践草案起草成一份声明。在发布之前，专家审查了该声明。
12 名信息专业人员对六个要素的最佳实践建议做出了贡献：核心资源、搜索策略、出版类型、透明度和可重复性、协作以及开展研究。建议中贯穿的基本原则包括及时性、开放性、平衡性、准备性和响应性。
作者和专家预计，在公共卫生紧急情况下搜索证据的建议将帮助信息专家、图书馆员、证据综合小组、研究人员和决策者应对未来的公共卫生紧急情况，包括但不限于疾病爆发。这些建议通过解决针对应急响应的具体问题，补充了现有的指导。该声明旨在成为一份活文件。未来的修订应征求更广泛社区的意见，并反映对 COVID-19 和卫生紧急情况的元研究结论。
