We couldn’t afford UpToDate’s price increase but due to its popularity we knew we would have complaints in stopping the service. The only option left was to demonstrate by comparison the features in UpToDate vs Dynamed.
After reading a few articles, comparing costs, collections, and features we prepared a document to go with our survey. We showed that Dynamed not only had more resources, cost less but also had more features.
For the very committed users of UpToDate, we sent them the trial link to try out, along with the cost, asking them to demonstrate the advantages of UpToDate features that are not in Dynamed. We were fortunate enough to get a list of users from UpToDate. We emailed all consultants and Leads to complete a feedback form.
To promote our Dynamed Trial, we sent out:
- Videos of how to use Dynamed
- Added a Dynamed link to the intranet and called it “up to date point of care tool – Dynamed”
- Handed out leaflets and QR Code cards at Inductions
- Setup demonstrations at the main hospital mezzanine with publishers and freebies.
- Promoted at grand round by publishers, Trust Comms, notice boards & links in signature
- Finally using mail merge we sent out to all our Open Athens users their usernames and password reset link.
- Departmental meetings presentation
- Introduction to Dynamed Video. 2 minutes 38 seconds long!
- https://vimeo.com/702214974
When we looked at our data we noticed that there were 3,933 more accesses made via the web than through mobile devices. This surprised us as we expected that the current generation of medical students and junior doctors would prefer mobile devices. In June 2023 the Library increased the number of computers from 10 to 30 in the Library.
What’s next?
We are exploring EPR Integration, as soon as our new EPR is rolled out. We hope to make BMJ Best practice and Dynamed accessible in the EPR in A&E. Our hospital does not currently have an EPR integrated into the whole site. We only have it in our A&E.
REFERENCES
- UpToDate versus DynaMed: a cross-sectional study comparing the speed and accuracy of two point-of-care information tools - PMC (nih.gov)
- Journal of Medical Internet Research - Providing Doctors With High-Quality Information: An Updated Evaluation of Web-Based Point-of-Care Information Summaries (jmir.org)
- DynaMed vs. UptoDate - Point of Care (EBM) Tools - HarrellGuides at Penn State Hershey Harrell Health Sciences Library (psu.edu)
- UpToDate, DynaMed and BMJ Best Practice (mypharmacistnote.blogspot.com)
- dmp16-vergleich-mit-uptodate.pdf (walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk)
- UpToDate versus DynaMed: a cross-sectional study comparing the speed and accuracy of two point-of-care information tools | Journal of the Medical Library Association (pitt.edu)
Linda Kalinda
Library and Knowledge Services Manager
Library, Education Centre, Directorate of Workforce & Organisational Development,
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
