Here are some questionnaires, interview templates, and case studies to help measure the impact of KLS

Questionnaires  

 Generic impact questionnaire  

The short questionnaire provides a standard and systematic way of obtaining impact information from customers who have used a library resource or service provided by knowledge specialists. 

Specific questionnaires

Questionnaire for measuring the impact of clinical librarians on direct patient care and organisational outcomes (Brettle et al. 2016)  

This detailed questionnaire has been piloted and tested to provide impact data across the North West.

It collects details of current and future contributions of clinical librarian services to a wide range of NHS related outcomes.

Results of any further use of the questionnaire can be benchmarked using the data in the article.

Impact Assessment Method. See A New Impact Assessment Method to Evaluate Knowledge Resources, by Pierre Pluye et al. 2005

This is a validated scale originally developed to examine the impact of electronic knowledge resources on clinical decision-making. 

It has been tested and used in various populations and situations, including providing information to patients. 

Impact of health library on patient care (Rochester study 1992updated by Marshall et al, 2013 

This questionnaire was originally developed for one of the first studies to assess the impact of health libraries, based on the Critical Incident Technique. 

Impact of Irish hospital library tool

This short questionnaire was developed from a set of outcome based key performance indicators. 

It comprises 1 question: “How did the information provided by the library help?” with 5 possible responses. 

Interview schedules  

The tools are designed as a best practice guide for local adaptation.  They include questionnaire schedules and a consent form for off-the-shelf use.  

Generic impact interview schedule for health knowledge and library services   

Interview schedule for measuring the impact of clinical librarians on patient care and NHS related outcomes (Brettle et al. 2016)  

This detailed interview schedule has been piloted and tested to provide impact data across the North West. 

It collects details of current and future contributions of clinical librarian services to a wide range of NHS related outcomes. 

It can be used as a stand alone tool, or to provide additional data to explain the outcomes provided from use of the questionnaire. 

Results of any further use of the schedule can be benchmarked using the data in the article. 

Case studies  

Case studies can effectively capture and summarise the outcome of interviews.

This can then be used for advocacy, marketing and promotion of library and knowledge services.  

We encourage you to submit your completed case studies.  For more informaiton see:   

See also:   

Guidance on obtaining consent to use case studies .

Acknowledgements

These tools were developed by the Knowledge for Healthcare Value and Impact Task and Finish Group.  

The tools are based on  the 2009 Impact Toolkit (developed by the former NHS South Central and National Library for Health) and  the 2007 toolkit developed by the University of Aberystwyth.  

Page last reviewed: 8 April 2024