The evaluation of the EILO project aimed primarily to assess the value placed on information search skills training and its impact on clinical care. Staff were asked to fill out an evaluation form on completion of their training session, and follow-up telephone interviews were held with over 10% of them approximately six weeks later.

This evaluation showed that for the majority, training increased awareness of available resources and helped refine existing search techniques. Before training, nearly 90% rated their skills and confidence as either poor or average. After training, over two thirds considered themselves to have very good skills. Even if staff did not immediately put their learning into practice, they had aspirations to do so.

The key areas of application were in day-today clinical management, preparing presentations, continuing professional education and writing policies and guidelines. As one participant said, "I had no idea how to get on the internet - now I can look for things at work and at home. In the respiratory unit I use it clinically, improving my knowledge of things I come across daily on the ward."

Of all professional groups, nursing staff were the most frequent users of the service, and a visit to the EILO became part of nurses' orientation programme. Several common issues around information technology emerged.

Although some nurses were building on existing skills, many had little experience with computers, in particular longer-established staff and those returning to work.

Low IT literacy can be an inhibitory factor for training of this nature - lack of confidence makes the learning process more difficult and may even prevent some staff coming forward for training. Automatic Trust network access is not provided. This, and the small number of computers in clinical areas, place a furrther barrier for staff who wish to access the healthcare literature to inform their decision making and review service delivery.

Although the EILO project has now ceased, staff based at The London Chest Hospital will continue to have dedicated access to training and support every Wednesday in the Education Centre from a member of Queen Mary University Medical School library staff or by telephone at any other time.