Vol. 3 No. 10 (2023)
Viewpoint

Equity in Information Retrieval

Published October 3, 2023

Key Messages

  • Medical librarians and information specialists have unique evidence retrieval skills that can help health technology assessment organizations reduce bias in the evidence they use:
    • They identify gaps in mainstream evidence sources and seek out alternatives that provide the perspectives of underrepresented populations.
    • They create complex and efficient database searches that encompass the wide variety of synonyms and phrases used to describe health disparities and inequities.
    • They use sound, logical, and efficient ways to access evidence from paywalled systems while respecting rights of ownership.
    • They critically appraise information systems to determine if they emphasize biases and inequities or create new ones.