Designing a model of professional ethics excellence for clinical librarians

• Published in: Journal of the Medical Library Association Vol. 108; no. 4; pp. 574 - 583
• Main Authors: Ashrafi-Rizi, Hasan, Kazempour, Zahra, Sheikhshoaei, Fatemeh, Ghazavi, Zahra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Medical Library Association 01.10.2020; University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
• Subjects: clinical librarian; Communication; Delphi method; Education; Ethical aspects; Ethics, Professional; Evidence based librarianship; Health sciences; Humans; Information Services; Information sources; International organizations; Librarians; Library and information science; Library associations; Library Science - ethics; Literature reviews; Medical librarians; Medical libraries; Original Investigation; Patients; Physicians; Professional ethics; professional ethics excellence model; Professionals; Questionnaires; United States
• ISSN: 1536-5050; 1558-9439
• DOI: 10.5195/jmla.2020.893

Developing and promoting professional ethics principles for clinical librarians can help the health care system balance the interests of all stakeholders, including clinical librarians, health care professionals, and patients. Therefore, the goal of this study was to design a model of professional ethics excellence for clinical librarians. The authors conducted a descriptive applied study using literature review and the delphi method. The delphi panel included eleven experts in medical librarianship, library and information sciences, or information sciences and knowledge studies. After the delphi rounds, five concepts and forty-six components were identified and confirmed to provide a model of professional ethics excellence for clinical librarians. The highest-rated concept was excellence in communication. The highest-rated component was mastery in developing search strategies in information resources and databases. Identifying and applying principles of professional ethics among clinical librarians can enhance the professionalization of clinical librarians and result in better information services for physicians. Furthermore, incorporating these principles into the curriculum for health sciences library and information sciences students or into workshops for active clinical librarians can further formalize the profession and practice of evidence-based medicine.