- Liz Dennett, , BSc, MLIS

"Whatever we're doing, there's a decision to be made."

Much of the work at the Institute of Health Economics involves synthesizing and analyzing current health and economic research. The Information Specialists on staff, Dagmara Chojecki and Liz Dennett, locate that research for the research analysts, so the quality and accuracy of IHE’s reports begins with them.

“The research done here is secondary research using published literature and synthesizing that in a systematic and very controlled fashion so it becomes research of its own. Because the researchers are basing this work on already-written literature, the quality of the searches we do for them becomes the foundation of the quality of the research,” says Liz.

“We do literature searches and some preliminary analysis of the results, as well as retrieve articles for the researchers that they then read and use to synthesize the information presented.” Liz adds that the level of support the librarians provide depends on the requirements of the client. Some of the work involves extensive and comprehensive searching across a variety of resources, the results of which are reviewed by IHE’s researchers. Sometimes it’s just a matter of a quick search and assessment of the studies, which the librarians can do themselves. “We’ve taken on that basic level of response to free up the researchers to do bigger projects.”

And while the work at the Institute presents different challenges compared to their work at the University of Alberta, where the Information Specialists spend part of their week, it’s the scale of the projects that both ISs find attractive.

“Here at IHE we see a project from the beginning right through to the end, and that’s really satisfying to see how things develop. It’s also about working with good people.”

 “That’s one of the great things about HTA,” Liz adds. “Whatever we’re doing, there’s a decision tied to it. It does have an immediate impact. When the ISs did that search on HPV, it was because someone in the province wanted to make a decision on vaccinations. That’s really cool to see that. And with health it’s always interesting because we all care about our health. It’s not hard to be interested in it; it’s not just about the process.”

Both say that they are excited when they can build on their previous searches in subsequent projects. For instance, their work on HPV vaccinations informed a later search on HPV testing.

“And our work relates to real people, too. If I’m talking to someone outside of here about what I’m researching, they often say, “Let me know what you find out because I’m on that drug,” or something.”