bims-librar Biomed News
on Biomedical librarianship
Issue of 2025–06–22
thirteen papers selected by
Thomas Krichel, Open Library Society



  1. Am J Health Promot. 2025 Jun 19. 8901171251353324
      PurposeTo evaluate change in home radon testing after initiation of a public library radon detector lending program (LLP) in four rural counties; and describe the impact of LLP promotions on check-outs.DesignLongitudinal tracking of radon testing and description of LLP promotions.SettingFour rural Kentucky counties.Sample14,697 radon tests pre-LLP (charcoal-based test kits); 12,707 radon tests post-LLP (detector check-outs plus charcoal-based).InterventionLLP and promotional strategies including direct mail, radio, newsletters, social media, and in-library promotions and training.MeasuresRadon detector check-outs (03/2023-11/2024) comparing counties with and without LLP.AnalysisExamined change in radon testing pre- and post-LLP implementation using incidence rate ratios. Evaluated number of check-outs following promotions.ResultsThere was a 2.5-fold increase in the rate of radon testing in the four study counties (RR=2.5, 95% CI: 2.27-2.76; p<.001), while the testing rate fell in non-study counties. Two study counties exceeded their check-out goals multiple months in a row following direct mail campaigns. Social media, in-library signage, and billboards were reported most effective at promoting the program. The proportion of county-level renter-occupied housing fluctuated, potentially affecting differences in library check outs.ConclusionLLPs show promise in maximizing access to population-based radon testing. Mailing postcards to residents had a sustained impact on detector check-outs over 3-5 months in some counties.
    Keywords:  ​air pollution; ​indoor air quality; ​libraries; ​radon
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1177/08901171251353324
  2. Health Info Libr J. 2025 Jun 15.
       BACKGROUND: The United Nations (UN) sustainable development goal-3 (SDG-3) concerns achieving good health and well-being for everyone (at all ages) by 2030.
    OBJECTIVES: Examined the role of medical library staff as mediators of health literacy and health outcomes towards the achievement of SDG 3 in Ghana.
    METHODS: Eight professional librarians from four medical libraries affiliated with four public universities participated in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews aligned with the study objectives. The health literacy framework proposed by Squiers et al. (The health literacy skills framework, Journal of Health Communication, 17 (Suppl. 3), 30-54, 2012) was adopted for this study.
    RESULTS: Medical school libraries provided timely and relevant information to their patrons as well as health literacy support, but most of their efforts were directed towards their students, instructors, and health professionals, not the general public.
    DISCUSSION: The intention of SDG3 for good health and wellbeing for all is only partially met, as support for health literacy among patients and the public is mostly indirect. Medical libraries in Ghana need to develop more collaborations and outreach activities for health literacy.
    CONCLUSION: The medical library staff successfully support health professionals, faculty, and students, but their mediator role in health literacy requires more collaboration with community representatives.
    Keywords:  Africa, west; access to information; global health; health literacy; librarians, medical; libraries, health care; research, qualitative
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12582
  3. BMJ Open. 2025 Jun 20. 15(6): e096489
       INTRODUCTION: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the gold standard for evaluating the efficacy and safety of healthcare interventions. For valid systematic reviews and evidence-based clinical guidelines, it is essential that results of all eligible RCTs are accessible. However, articles about trials published in languages other than English are often not listed in well-known and open trial databases like Medline and therefore scarcely findable. Handsearching national journals is an important approach to identify these articles and enhance their global visibility. Consequently, the results of trials conducted and published in non-English-speaking countries are not lost but rather integrated into the global body of evidence.The present study aims to evaluate the benefits of extensive handsearching in Hungary and to identify key medical fields for future efforts. We will also assess the extent of grey literature in Hungary. We will appraise the risk of bias in the identified RCTs and controlled clinical trials (CCTs; indicating quasi-randomised or possibly randomised controlled trials) and examine the reporting quality of articles in Hungarian medical journals. Additionally, we will explore whether the automation tool Paperfetcher, recommended by Cochrane for handsearching, can effectively support these efforts in a non-English language context.
    METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a cover-to-cover handsearch of all Hungarian medical journals publishing content in the year 2023 to identify all controlled clinical trials, including RCTs, CCTs and non-RCTs, which are trials that use a clearly non-random method for allocating participants to groups. We will also search conference proceedings submitted to the Hungarian National Széchényi Library, abstract supplements from journals available via the Hungarian Medical Bibliography database, preprints available on medRxiv, Hungarian theses and dissertations, as well as Google Scholar to identify grey literature.Two independent researchers will screen the identified records, assess their eligibility, extract data and evaluate the risk of bias and reporting quality according to the CONSORT statement. To verify the availability of reports and publications derived from the identified trials in electronic databases, we will systematically search MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Embase and Scopus. All identified RCTs and CCTs not yet included in CENTRAL will be added to the database. Additionally, we will compare handsearching supported by the Paperfetcher tool with unsupported handsearching to evaluate the tool's effectiveness in a Hungarian language context.
    ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Since the publication resulting from the handsearching activity is a retrospective review of publicly available sources of evidence, ethical approval is not required. The study findings will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and will be presented at international conferences.
    Keywords:  Clinical Trial; Information Storage and Retrieval; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Design
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-096489
  4. Sci Data. 2025 Jun 17. 12(1): 1018
      Papers, patents, and clinical trials are essential scientific resources in biomedicine, crucial for knowledge sharing and dissemination. However, these documents are often stored in disparate databases with varying management standards and data formats, making it challenging to form systematic and fine-grained connections among them. To address this issue, we construct PKG 2.0, a comprehensive knowledge graph dataset encompassing over 36 million papers, 1.3 million patents, and 0.48 million clinical trials in the biomedical field. PKG 2.0 integrates these dispersed resources through 482 million biomedical entity linkages, 19 million citation linkages, and 7 million project linkages. The construction of PKG 2.0 wove together fine-grained biomedical entity extraction, high-performance author name disambiguation, multi-source citation integration, and high-quality project data from the NIH Exporter. Data validation demonstrates that PKG 2.0 excels in key tasks such as author disambiguation and biomedical entity recognition. This dataset provides valuable resources for biomedical researchers, bibliometric scholars, and those engaged in literature mining.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05343-8
  5. Health Info Libr J. 2025 Jun 17.
       BACKGROUND: The development of a Centre for Care Excellence at a large Midlands National Health Service teaching hospital enabled the opportunity to introduce Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) groups through collaborative working with library specialists and health professionals.
    OBJECTIVES: To provide interactive training for health professionals to improve their critical appraisal skills and to translate research findings into practice.
    METHODS: Clinical Evidence Based Information Services library experts and a clinical academic facilitator ran interactive CAT groups via webinars. Clinical staff were recruited via poster advertising with quick-response (QR) code registration. Groups were facilitated for 8 months.
    RESULTS: Between January 2019 and August 2023, six CAT groups were established. Four groups completed critical appraisal, progressing to translate the research findings to inform clinical practice. Progression paused in two groups, with outcomes reporting to follow.
    DISCUSSION: CATs can galvanise health professionals' database searching, evidence retrieval, and critical appraisal; particularly those less familiar with these processes. Group members must commit to deliverables, especially with challenging workforce shortfalls where CAT groups could be designated as optional activities.
    CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes depend on the adequacy of critical appraisal skills and the involvement of skilled facilitators. Long-term, a strategy to cultivate new facilitators through training may ensure scale-up for new groups.
    Keywords:  collaboration; critical appraisal; database searching; education and training; evidence‐based practice (EBP); health professionals; informationist; librarians; translation of research findings
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12577
  6. J Intellect Disabil. 2025 Jun 14. 17446295251345968
      New academic researchers need resources to effectively learn how to conduct inclusive research and meaningfully engage co-researchers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This rapid review aims to address: What online resources are available in 2024 for new academic researchers seeking to learn about inclusive research methods and what is the quality of those resources based on a set of criteria for assessing quality in inclusive research? A search of the literature was conducted. In total, 11 resources were included. A checklist with 11 items was developed to assess the quality of these resources. Results suggest a range of checklist criteria met among the resources. Among the 11 checklist items, some were consistently met while others were frequently overlooked. This study brings to light a need for addressing how senior academic researchers make resources for complex research methods available to others. Additionally, it demonstrates the importance of developing comprehensive, self-paced training with implementation support.
    Keywords:  academic researchers; co-researchers; inclusive research; intellectual and developmental disabilities; online resources
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1177/17446295251345968
  7. Urol Pract. 2025 Jun 16. 101097UPJ0000000000000855
       PURPOSE: To assess the readability of clinical trial brief summaries for urologic oncology studies listed on ClinicalTrials.gov and evaluate readability variation by cancer type, time or study sponsor.
    MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed all clinical trials related to six urologic cancers registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. We extracted the brief summary and calculated surface metrics (word count, sentence length, vocabulary size, abbreviation count) and five standard readability scores including the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE). We used interrupted time series analysis to assess readability trends, with 2017 as the intervention point following the NIH's clear language guidance release.We categorized sponsor types (government, academic, industry) to compare readability across sponsor groups.
    RESULTS: We identified 17,175 trials across six cancer types. The average FKGL was 18.7 and FRE was 7.4. Median length was 24 (IQR 20-30) words. Interrupted time series analysis showed that from 2000-2016 brief summaries became increasingly more complex with FKGL rising and FRE decreasing (both p<0.01). After the plain language guidance from the NIH, readability improved with FKGL decreasing and FRE increasing (both p<0.01). Government-sponsored trials were most readable (FKGL = 16.0, FRE = 27.3), followed by academic (FKGL 18.1, FRE 8.7), and industry (FKGL 19.1, FRE 7.3); all differences were significant (p < 0.01).
    CONCLUSIONS: Brief summaries of urologic oncology trials on ClinicalTrials.gov remain highly complex requiring a graduate level reading ability. There is improvement since NIH's plain language directive. Efforts to enhance the clarity of clinical trial descriptions are needed to support informed patient participation.
    Keywords:  clinical trials; comprehension; health literacy; patient education; readability
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1097/UPJ.0000000000000855
  8. Front Public Health. 2025 ;13 1578076
       Background: Acute pancreatitis is a prevalent condition in China. A plethora of information pertaining to acute pancreatitis is readily available on the Internet, including on major search engines and various short video applications. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the quality, content completeness, and accuracy of information related to acute pancreatitis on web pages of the four major search engines and short videos on the two major short video platforms.
    Materials and methods: A search was conducted on four major search engines (Bing, Baidu, Haosou, and Sougou) and two short video apps (TikTok and BiliBili) using the Chinese keyword "acute pancreatitis." The sources can be divided into four categories: scientific resources, news/media reports, industrial/commercial profit organizations, and healthcare providers. The quality of the web pages and short videos was evaluated using the DISCERN instrument, the Global Quality Score (GQS), and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). In accordance with established guidelines and reviews of acute pancreatitis, two lists and scoring systems were devised for the evaluation of content comprehensiveness and accuracy.
    Results: A total of 120 unique web pages and 120 unique videos were identified using four search engines and two short video applications, respectively. The most prevalent identity among those producing short videos was that of healthcare providers. With regard to the source of the web pages, the most prevalent category was that of industrial/commercial profit organizations. The median DISCERN total score, median GQS score, and median JAMA score were 26, 3, and 2, respectively. Web pages exhibited significantly higher ratings than short videos (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, and p < 0.001). The median overall content score for the web page was 8 (interquartile range [IQR] 4-13), and the median guideline-related score was 2 (IQR 0-4), indicating that the web page's content was deficient in terms of completeness and accuracy. In comparison, the performance of the short video was found to be even more deficient.
    Conclusion: In China, most web pages pertaining to acute pancreatitis were produced by industrial/commercial profit organizations, but the quality of the information provided by these entities was found to be the lowest. The majority of short videos were created by healthcare providers, but the overall quality of these videos was found to be inadequate. In general, the quality of both web pages and short videos is suboptimal. Nevertheless, the quality of web pages was found to be superior to that of short videos. In terms of completeness and accuracy, both the web page and the video exhibit significant deficiencies that are cause for concern.
    Keywords:  BiliBili; TikTok; acute pancreatitis; quality; web pages
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1578076
  9. Brain Inj. 2025 Jun 17. 1-7
       INTRODUCTION: In Canada, concussions are common among children aged 3-12 years. Caregivers play a vital role in their child's post-concussion care, highlighting the need for resources tailored to children and caregivers. Although many online pediatric concussion resources exist, their suitability for younger children and caregivers remains unclear.
    OBJECTIVE: To identify and assess the quality, readability, usability, and suitability of online concussion resources for children aged 3-12 years and their caregivers.
    METHODS: A four-phased systematic search strategy was used and involved: 1) searching Canadian children's hospital websites, 2) applying pre-established inclusion/exclusion criteria, 3) evaluating content quality, and 4) evaluating resources for suitability, readability, and usability.
    RESULTS: The search yielded 738 resources.17 met the final criteria. Among these, 82.4% (n = 14) required the ability to read text, 11.8% (n = 2) specified the age of the resource targeted, and 5.9% (n = 1) focused on return to play beyond organized sport.
    CONCLUSIONS: The identified resources offer accurate concussion information for children and caregivers, but lack specificity for their intended audience and accessibility for nonreaders. Future resources should consider specifying the intended age group, improving accessibility for nonreaders, and including information about important activities for this age group such as returning to active play.
    Keywords:  Brain injury; education; knowledge translation; parents; pediatrics; review
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2025.2514159
  10. Digit Health. 2025 Jan-Dec;11:11 20552076251351077
       Background: Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a condition where ovarian function ceases before age 40, leading to infertility and other health issues. As public health awareness increases, platforms like TikTok and Bilibili have become key sources for health-related content. However, the absence of peer review and regulatory oversight on short-video platforms may result in the spread of inaccurate or incomplete health information. This study evaluates the quality of videos related to POF on these platforms.
    Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, analyzing 187 POF-related videos from TikTok and Bilibili. The modified DISCERN and Global Quality Score (GQS) assessment tools were used to evaluate video reliability and quality. Data on video characteristics, including engagement metrics and content, were also collected. Statistical analyses were performed to assess differences between platforms, video sources, and video quality.
    Result: TikTok is more popular than Bilibili. Videos on both platforms related to POF had suboptimal quality, with TikTok's GQS median at 3 (2-3) and Bilibili's at 2 (1-3), showing a significant difference (p < 0.05). However, both had median modified DISCERN scores of 2 (1-3), with no significant difference (p > 0.05). On Bilibili, video duration was positively correlated with quality scores (p < 0.001), but no such correlation was found on TikTok. Symptoms of POF were the most common topic, with 29% of videos providing detailed explanations. Diagnosis and treatment were discussed in 16% and 7.4% of videos, respectively. Expert-uploaded videos demonstrated significantly higher quality than those from non-experts and personal users, with GQS and modified DISCERN scores of 3 (2-4) and 2 (1-3), respectively.
    Conclusions: TikTok had higher engagement and better quality than Bilibili, but both platforms had inadequate video quality and reliability on POF. Expert videos were more reliable. These findings highlight the need for better regulation and monitoring of health content on short-video platforms.
    Keywords:  Bilibili; Global Quality Score; Premature ovarian failure; TikTok; information quality; modified DISCERN; reliability; short videos; social media
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251351077
  11. Pediatr Surg Int. 2025 Jun 17. 41(1): 173
       PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the quality and reliability of the informational and surgery-oriented content of YouTube videos on Hirschsprung's disease.
    METHODS: On October 1, 2024, a YouTube search was conducted on Hirschsprung's disease, and 60 videos with over 10,000 views were included in the study. The reliability and quality of the videos were assessed by two independent pediatric surgeons using the Global Quality Scale (GQS), Modified DISCERN (mDISCERN), and American Medical Association (JAMA) scales. VPI was calculated as (like ratio × view ratio)/100, where view ratio refers to the number of views per day since the video's upload date.
    RESULTS: Of the 60 videos, 53 (88.3%) were informational, while 9 (11.7%) were surgery-oriented. Videos were uploaded by private hospitals (15%), physicians (31.7%), and private youtube channels (53.3%). Thirteen videos (21.7%) utilized animations. The mean video length was 640.5 ± 729.8 s, with an average view count of 83,728 ± 265,503 and a mean VPI of 49.8 ± 157.4. The average mDISCERN score was 2.53 ± 0.98, the GQS score was 2.52 ± 1.2, and the JAMA score was 2.55 ± 0.53. Although weak, statistically significant positive correlations were observed between VPI and quality scores (mDISCERN: r = 0.32, P = 0.014; GQS: r = 0.26, P = 0.048; JAMA: r = 0.34, P = 0.008), suggesting that more popular videos tended to be of slightly better quality. Older videos were associated with lower quality scores (P < 0.05).
    CONCLUSION: This study revealed that YouTube videos related to Hirschsprung's disease are generally of low quality. This situation increases the risk of patients and their families being exposed to misleading or incomplete information.
    Keywords:  Congenital megacolon; Hirschsprung's disease; Video analysis; YouTube™
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-025-06064-0
  12. Bull Menninger Clin. 2025 ;89(2): 154-174
      Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most popular health-related topics on TikTok but is often misrepresented. This study analyzed the accuracy (i.e., accurate, overgeneralizing, or inaccurate), reach (i.e., views, likes, comments, and shares), and content quality (i.e., understandability and actionability) of 117 informational TikTok videos about OCD. Content creator type (health care professionals [HCPs], individuals with lived experiences, and others) was determined. Of the 117 analyzed videos, 64 (54.7%) were accurate, 31 (26.5%) overgeneralizing, and 22 (18.8%) inaccurate. HCP-created videos were significantly more accurate (82.1% accurate) than non-HCP-created ones (individuals with lived experiences: 63.6% accurate; others: 35.7%). Reach metrics did not vary significantly across accuracy levels and creator types. Videos analyzed were moderately understandable, and accurate videos were significantly more understandable. However, actionability was low overall. Results suggest that misinformation about OCD on TikTok is common and is being disseminated almost as widely as accurate information. Clinical implications are discussed.
    Keywords:  TikTok; misinformation; obsessive-compulsive disorder; social media
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1521/bumc.2025.89.2.154
  13. Health Info Libr J. 2025 Jun 20.
       BACKGROUND: Living with cardiac implantable electronic devices requires patients to apply information skills.
    OBJECTIVE: To explore barriers to the health literacy of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices.
    METHODS: This descriptive, qualitative study was conducted with 18 patients. Data were gathered via semi-structured, face-to-face interviews. Content analysis was applied to the data. The results were reported using the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ).
    RESULTS: Two themes emerged: 'Floundering patients'; 'Lackadaisical patients'. First theme involved four subthemes: 'An enormous unmet need for information'; 'The information source: The doctor'; 'Communication issues'; 'Preferences'. Second theme included two subthemes: 'Dependence on doctor' and 'Dependence on others'.
    DISCUSSION: Theme one revealed that patients found it difficult to evaluate the health information and assumed the doctor was the prime source of information, rather than other health professionals who might help provide the necessary education and counselling. Theme two was 'lackadaisical patients', who failed to access information, communicate with the healthcare provider, evaluate information, or take a role in the decision-making process due to their complete trust in doctors and informal caregivers.
    CONCLUSION: These results suggested that nurses should play a role in the improvement of patients' health literacy, with the help of health information professionals.
    Keywords:  health literacy; informatics, medical; nursing; patient education; patient information; qualitative research
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12581