The library as a resource for decision making in mental health care

OBJECTIVE: The study sought to determine whether mental health practitioners decided to make changes in specific areas of patient or client care as a result of information obtained from library literature searches. METHODS: A ten-question survey was distributed to 350 mental health professionals who had requested at least one computerized literature search from a library affiliated with a state institute of mental health during an eight-month period. RESULTS: A total of 70.5 percent of survey respondents made one or more changes in their approach to patient or client care after reviewing the information obtained through the search. CONCLUSIONS: Access to the wide range of research and experience embodied in the published literature is a valuable adjunct to the mental health professional's training and personal experience.