I am a biomedical branch librarian (precisely, a hospital librarian) located at UBC's Biomedical Branch Library at Vancouver General Hospital
I teach various information-related courses at the UBC School of Library, Archival and Information Studies (SLAIS), the UBC School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) & Langara's Library and Information program
Currently, I sit on the executive of the Canadian Health Libraries Association as public relations director, and chair the Publications Committee of the Canadian Association of Professional Academic Librarians (CAPAL/ACBAP).
Research examining the effective uses of social media (SM) in public health and medicine, especia... more Research examining the effective uses of social media (SM) in public health and medicine, especially in the form of systematic reviews (SRs), has grown considerably in the past decade. To our knowledge, no comprehensive synthesis of this literature has been conducted to date. To conduct a systematic review of systematic reviews of the benefits and harms ("effects") of SM tools and platforms (such as Twitter and Facebook) in public health and medicine. To perform a synthesis of this literature and create a 'living systematic review'. Forty-two (42) high-quality SRs were examined. Overall, evidence of SM's effectiveness in public health and medicine was judged to be minimal. However, qualitative benefits for patients are seen in improved psychosocial support and psychological functioning. Health professionals benefited from better peer-to-peer communication and lifelong learning. Harms on all groups include the impact of SM on mental health, privacy, confidential...
This article is the second in a new series in this regular feature. The intention of the series i... more This article is the second in a new series in this regular feature. The intention of the series is to look at important global developments in health science libraries. These articles will serve as a road map, describing the key changes in the field and exploring factors driving these changes. The present article by two Canadian librarians identifies important national developments which are shaping the profession such as the centralisation of health care services, the challenge of providing consumer health information in the absence of a national strategy, government recognition of the need to recognise and respond to the health needs of indigenous peoples and the growing emphasis on managing research data. Although their profession is strong, health science librarians must find ways of providing enhanced services with fewer staff and demonstrate value to organisations. JM.
The serum-soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2r) level is considered an important diagnostic tes... more The serum-soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2r) level is considered an important diagnostic test and disease marker in hemophagocytic syndromes/hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HPS/HLH). However, this cytokine receptor is rarely measured in clinical practice and has been excluded from recent diagnostic/classification criteria such as the HScore and macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) 16. We performed a systematic scoping review of 64 articles (1975-2016) examining the clinical utility of sIL-2r in HPS/HLH. Twenty-two articles describe sIL-2r as a sensitive diagnostic marker for HLH, but only three distinct datasets actually address sensitivity. The original HLH-2004 Guidelines reported sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 100% for sIL-2r ≥ 2400, based on a pediatric dataset (n = 152) which is published for the first time in this review. Two pediatric studies reported sensitivity of 89% for sIL-2r ≥ 2400 in diagnosis of MAS complicating juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) (n =...
Most knowledge of hemophagocytic syndromes (HPSs) including hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (H... more Most knowledge of hemophagocytic syndromes (HPSs) including hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is derived from pediatric studies; literature on adult HPS/HLH predominantly consists of small retrospective studies with clinical and methodological heterogeneity. The aims of this systematic scoping review were to provide an overview of existing literature on adult HPS/HLH, describe current practices in diagnosis and treatment, and propose priorities for future research. Articles from Ovid Medline, Embase and Pubmed (1975-2015) describing 10 or more unique adults (age>15years) with HPS/HLH were included. 82 publications were eligible: 10 were prospective and 72 were retrospective. Of the six distinct diagnostic criteria, the HLH-2004 criteria were by far the most commonly used. A minority of studies tested for genetic abnormalities (12), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (11), and/or NK function (11) in a subset of patients. Most centers used steroids and either etoposide-based (HL...
It will come as no surprise to Health Care on the Internet readers that the Internet is now the m... more It will come as no surprise to Health Care on the Internet readers that the Internet is now the most popular medium for staying informed in our changing world. More than ever, consumers from all walks of life search the Internet for health, business, and education information, and see it as critical to decision-making. Many consumers hope to share what they find with each other, and to improve the quality of life for all citizens. Clearly, many consumers believe that shared knowledge can save lives.
When it comes to health care decision-making via the Internet, and the potential for error in sel... more When it comes to health care decision-making via the Internet, and the potential for error in self-diagnosis, should tighter controls be in place to protect consumers? Some librarians and information professionals suggest that health care information on the Internet might be monitored, and regulated, by government groups such as the FDA and the Consumer Protection Agency. But how practical or feasible is that? Due to online vagaries of jurisdiction and geography, the Internet is an international forum without borders, one governed by few ...
MedGenMed : Medscape general medicine, Jan 17, 2006
As far as balance, there is not a single reference to any study ever performed by the VSD. Withou... more As far as balance, there is not a single reference to any study ever performed by the VSD. Without beating a dead horse, there are at least 18 peer-reviewed publications that speak specifically to critical issues of vaccine safety, none of which are cited in the Wikipedia article. [5-22] If ...
Since this column's Part I comparison of the portals Lycos and Excite, much has happened--an... more Since this column's Part I comparison of the portals Lycos and Excite, much has happened--and continues to happen--in the competitive arena of online search tools. The world of portals, subject directories, and search engines is highly volatile and commerce-driven. Intense competition between the top performers means that cyberanalysts are constantly watching trends to see where search engines will go next. No one seems to know for sure since each portal is jockeying for a top position in the lucrative online marketplace. Legal ...
Research examining the effective uses of social media (SM) in public health and medicine, especia... more Research examining the effective uses of social media (SM) in public health and medicine, especially in the form of systematic reviews (SRs), has grown considerably in the past decade. To our knowledge, no comprehensive synthesis of this literature has been conducted to date. To conduct a systematic review of systematic reviews of the benefits and harms ("effects") of SM tools and platforms (such as Twitter and Facebook) in public health and medicine. To perform a synthesis of this literature and create a 'living systematic review'. Forty-two (42) high-quality SRs were examined. Overall, evidence of SM's effectiveness in public health and medicine was judged to be minimal. However, qualitative benefits for patients are seen in improved psychosocial support and psychological functioning. Health professionals benefited from better peer-to-peer communication and lifelong learning. Harms on all groups include the impact of SM on mental health, privacy, confidential...
This article is the second in a new series in this regular feature. The intention of the series i... more This article is the second in a new series in this regular feature. The intention of the series is to look at important global developments in health science libraries. These articles will serve as a road map, describing the key changes in the field and exploring factors driving these changes. The present article by two Canadian librarians identifies important national developments which are shaping the profession such as the centralisation of health care services, the challenge of providing consumer health information in the absence of a national strategy, government recognition of the need to recognise and respond to the health needs of indigenous peoples and the growing emphasis on managing research data. Although their profession is strong, health science librarians must find ways of providing enhanced services with fewer staff and demonstrate value to organisations. JM.
The serum-soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2r) level is considered an important diagnostic tes... more The serum-soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2r) level is considered an important diagnostic test and disease marker in hemophagocytic syndromes/hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HPS/HLH). However, this cytokine receptor is rarely measured in clinical practice and has been excluded from recent diagnostic/classification criteria such as the HScore and macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) 16. We performed a systematic scoping review of 64 articles (1975-2016) examining the clinical utility of sIL-2r in HPS/HLH. Twenty-two articles describe sIL-2r as a sensitive diagnostic marker for HLH, but only three distinct datasets actually address sensitivity. The original HLH-2004 Guidelines reported sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 100% for sIL-2r ≥ 2400, based on a pediatric dataset (n = 152) which is published for the first time in this review. Two pediatric studies reported sensitivity of 89% for sIL-2r ≥ 2400 in diagnosis of MAS complicating juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) (n =...
Most knowledge of hemophagocytic syndromes (HPSs) including hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (H... more Most knowledge of hemophagocytic syndromes (HPSs) including hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is derived from pediatric studies; literature on adult HPS/HLH predominantly consists of small retrospective studies with clinical and methodological heterogeneity. The aims of this systematic scoping review were to provide an overview of existing literature on adult HPS/HLH, describe current practices in diagnosis and treatment, and propose priorities for future research. Articles from Ovid Medline, Embase and Pubmed (1975-2015) describing 10 or more unique adults (age>15years) with HPS/HLH were included. 82 publications were eligible: 10 were prospective and 72 were retrospective. Of the six distinct diagnostic criteria, the HLH-2004 criteria were by far the most commonly used. A minority of studies tested for genetic abnormalities (12), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (11), and/or NK function (11) in a subset of patients. Most centers used steroids and either etoposide-based (HL...
It will come as no surprise to Health Care on the Internet readers that the Internet is now the m... more It will come as no surprise to Health Care on the Internet readers that the Internet is now the most popular medium for staying informed in our changing world. More than ever, consumers from all walks of life search the Internet for health, business, and education information, and see it as critical to decision-making. Many consumers hope to share what they find with each other, and to improve the quality of life for all citizens. Clearly, many consumers believe that shared knowledge can save lives.
When it comes to health care decision-making via the Internet, and the potential for error in sel... more When it comes to health care decision-making via the Internet, and the potential for error in self-diagnosis, should tighter controls be in place to protect consumers? Some librarians and information professionals suggest that health care information on the Internet might be monitored, and regulated, by government groups such as the FDA and the Consumer Protection Agency. But how practical or feasible is that? Due to online vagaries of jurisdiction and geography, the Internet is an international forum without borders, one governed by few ...
MedGenMed : Medscape general medicine, Jan 17, 2006
As far as balance, there is not a single reference to any study ever performed by the VSD. Withou... more As far as balance, there is not a single reference to any study ever performed by the VSD. Without beating a dead horse, there are at least 18 peer-reviewed publications that speak specifically to critical issues of vaccine safety, none of which are cited in the Wikipedia article. [5-22] If ...
Since this column's Part I comparison of the portals Lycos and Excite, much has happened--an... more Since this column's Part I comparison of the portals Lycos and Excite, much has happened--and continues to happen--in the competitive arena of online search tools. The world of portals, subject directories, and search engines is highly volatile and commerce-driven. Intense competition between the top performers means that cyberanalysts are constantly watching trends to see where search engines will go next. No one seems to know for sure since each portal is jockeying for a top position in the lucrative online marketplace. Legal ...
Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 2014
New &... more New "social" information and communication technologies such as social media and smartphones are allowing non-experts to access, interpret and generate medical information for their own care and the care of others. Pharmacists may also benefit from increased connectivity, but first there needs to be an understanding of how pharmacists engage with social media. A scoping review methodology was used to describe pharmacist and pharmacy student participation in social media networks and to describe the gaps in research. Three themes that emerged from reviewing social media use in pharmacy education were student engagement, boundaries and e-professionalism. For pharmacists, the themes of liability and professional use were prominent. Few pharmacy leadership organizations are providing guidance on social media but that appears to be changing. As the control of medical knowledge shifts from health professionals to the larger social community, pharmacists need to be present. Social media use and training in undergraduate programs is promising but experienced pharmacists also need to join the conversation.
This article is an overview of a new collaborative venture at the University of British Columbia ... more This article is an overview of a new collaborative venture at the University of British Columbia (UBC) that brings together a group of student and professional academic librarians from across Canada called the Social Media Research Team (SMeRT). We currently have six ...
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