Sample interview questions: How would you handle a situation where a patron requests assistance with conducting a literature search on rare diseases?
Sample answer:
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Gather Information:
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Ask the patron about the specific rare disease they are interested in.
- Inquire about their knowledge level on the topic and what kind of information they are seeking.
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Understand their purpose for conducting the literature search, whether it’s for research, treatment options, or general knowledge.
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Search Strategy:
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Start with a broad search using keywords related to the rare disease.
- Use databases specific to medical and scientific literature, such as PubMed, MEDLINE, or EMBASE.
- Utilize controlled vocabulary, such as MeSH (Medical Subject Headings), to improve search accuracy.
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Combine keywords with Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to narrow down the search.
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Limit Results:
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Apply filters to refine the search results based on publication date, language, study type, and other relevant criteria.
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Exclude common diseases or conditions to focus solely on rare diseases.
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Evaluate Results:
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Review the titles and abstracts of the search results to assess their relevance to the patron’s request.
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Use citation metrics, such as the number of citations or the impact factor of the journal, to gauge the quality of the articles.
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Organize and Present Results:
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Compile a bibliography or a list of references that includes the full citations of the relevant articles.
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Annotate the references with brief summaries or abstracts to provide context and assist the patron in selecting t… Read full answer
Source: https://hireabo.com/job/18_0_9/Medical%20Librarian