The information needs and information seeking behaviour of family doctors: a selective literature review

General practitioners play a central role in primary care. Clinical Governance and advances in Information and Communications Technology dominate the agenda for change. The aim of this literature review is to indicate publications that have made a significant contribution to understanding of the information wants, needs, behaviour and preferences of family physicians and to identify areas in which there is scope for further research. Concentrating on material published in the 1990s, this review looks at the information needs of family doctors and at their information seeking behaviour. Work on the needs of General Medical Practices and of Primary Care Groups is included. The review discusses studies of information gatekeepers and projects intended to augment access to information services. A few texts are recommended as essential reading.     

Physician information seeking: improving relevance through research

Health sciences libraries have considerable potential as resources for both formal continuing professional education, as well as the informal continuing education that results from the professional's efforts to solve problems in daily practice. While there is a growing interest in making the resources of health sciences libraries more accessible to practitioners on a routine, day-to-day basis, there also needs to be more awareness of how, when, where, and why professionals look for information in the context of practical problems. This paper reviews recent research that identifies the context in which physicians seek information and advice from external sources, the information sources that physicians access, and the factors that influence which particular sources are sought. The results indicate that physicians vary in their information needs, preferences, motivations, and strategies for seeking information. This diversity suggests that health sciences libraries, in their efforts to be more accessible, should consider "market research" to determine the needs, preferences, and use patterns of the library's targeted users. Libraries may also benefit from exploring alternative methods of improving access to their resources.     

医学院校图书馆服务基层医生的新途径

调查了基层医生信息资源利用现状、信息需求种类、满足程度、获取方式以及对未来获取医学信息的期望等,分析了医学院校图书馆服务基层医生的可行性,探讨了全媒体时代医学院校图书馆为基层医生提供特色化信息服务的新途径。     

基于解释结构模型的老年人信息需求影响因素分析

[目的/意义]建立老年人信息需求影响因素解释结构模型,并对影响因素的层级关系及其对老年人信息需求的影响进行分析。[方法/过程]借鉴老年人信息需求影响因素已有科研成果,通过第一轮专家调查,确定影响老年人信息需求的20个因素,并将其归类。在此基础上,通过第二轮专家调查,确定老年人信息需求影响因素的相互关系,建立邻接矩阵;对邻接矩阵进行运算,得到可达矩阵;分解可达矩阵,将老年人信息需求影响因素划分为5个层级,建立老年人信息需求影响因素解释结构模型,并对影响因素的层级关系及其对老年人信息需求的影响进行分析。[结果/结论]老年人信息需求影响因素可分为表层因素、中层因素和深层因素。表层因素是影响老年人信息需求最为直接的因素;中层因素是影响老年人信息需求较为直接的因素;深层因素是影响老年人信息需求的根本因素。     

Qualitative analysis of parents' information needs and psychosocial experiences when supporting children with health care needs

OBJECTIVE: To identify the information needs of parents of children with health care needs. METHODS: A series of three focus groups and one in-depth interview were held with parents (n = 10, 90% female) in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK. RESULTS: Findings were grouped into four themes: delivery of information; levels of support; relationship between the family and professional; and management of events. Parents expressed a preference for information to be delivered on a verbal, 'one-to-one' basis by a professional, supplemented by accessible, written reference materials. The provision of a contact telephone number for a named professional, so further information could be obtained when required, was identified as a key source of support. Participants emphasized the importance of being consulted about the care of their child, the interaction between professional and child, and also of being treated as an individual by the professional. CONCLUSIONS: Delivery of information to parents may be most effective on a verbal, 'one-to-one' basis with a professional, in conjunction with written accessible general and child-specific reference materials. The importance to parents of the provision of contact details for a named professional and specialist nurse support is also emphasized. The psychosocial experiences of parents, along with the impact of the relationship between family and professional, and requirement for good channels of communication, must be taken into account by professionals during the care of children with health care needs. These findings have important implications for professionals and service providers for the future delivery of information to parents of children with health care needs.     

The medical information needs of internists and pediatricians at an academic medical center

Medical information needs were examined in a survey of sixty-seven physicians selected from the faculty and housestaff at Johns Hopkins Hospital. A standardized questionnaire was administered personally by a medical informatics physician to collect data on information needs, attitudes, and previous experience with computers. The types of information most frequently required by both faculty and housestaff were treatment recommendations and differential diagnosis. The sources of reference information most commonly used were textbooks and colleagues. The information needs of housestaff differed significantly in several categories from those of faculty physicians. Housestaff more frequently needed information for patient care (P less than 0.05), and preferred the use of textbooks (P less than 0.01) and handbooks (P less than 0.001) as information sources. Faculty more frequently needed information for activities unrelated to patient care (P less than 0.01) and placed greater importance on basic science information (P less than 0.01). When asked to suggest references for online access, the respondents named 143 journals and textbooks, with journals overwhelmingly preferred over textbooks. Only one reference, the New England Journal of Medicine, was requested by a majority of the respondents. The importance of a broad understanding of physician information needs through improved data-collection techniques is discussed as a means of increasing the use of medical information systems.     

Assessing the impact of information services in a regionalized health-care organization

Objectives: Assessment of the usage of medical library services before and after the implementation of several new services, as well as assessment of the clinical impact of the information provided by the medical library. Methods: A sample of employees, residents and physicians were surveyed using a stratified, random selection process in two surveys 4 years apart. The response rate for the first survey was 52% and the response rate for the second survey was 35.2%. Results: Differences in usage included increased overall use of the librarians and library services, decreased use of the Internet as a source of information, and direct and indirect impacts upon patient care. Information needs of respondents also increased to where 65% of employees and 94% of physicians require information at least once a week. Patient management was the main reason for needing information. The top two specific uses were to find out about a condition and determine a treatment plan. Conclusions: These findings parallel some of the findings of other researchers, and contradict the findings of others. Possible explanations for these findings and implications for future research are discussed.     

Information for social and economic participation: A review of related research on the information needs and acquisition of rural Chinese

This paper provides an analytical overview of related literature published during the past decade on rural population's information needs and acquisition in China, with a view to informing the world research community and policy makers of what has been found about the information needs of the world's largest rural population and to promoting dialogue between interested researchers within and outside China. Results from related studies are summarized; major methodological features of these studies are noted; practical and theoretical implications of major findings are critically analyzed. Although the results from related studies are not directly comparable due to their differences in research methods and contexts, it is nevertheless possible to draw some common conclusions regarding the rural population's information needs and information source preferences. Related research has overwhelmingly showed that rural residents have an extensive range of information needs, with agricultural technological information, market information, income generation information and policy information being the most needed; and that they rely very much on interpersonal relationships for acquiring both general information and information for agriculture production. The primary objectives of most studies are pragmatic rather than theoretical.     

Information Needs and Information Seeking Behavior of Agricultural Scientists in Malaysia

Knowledge about the information needs and seeking behavior of scientists could play a vital role in meeting their information needs effectively. Libraries can use this knowledge for re-orienting their collections and facilities to attune them to the needs of the scientific community. This study explores information needs and seeking behavior of Malaysian agricultural scientists. It was found that research scientists spent 16% of their office time on reading and literature searching, whereas academicians spent 9.3% of their time for this purpose. The study also revealed that scientists preferred using primary sources of information, particularly journal and review articles. Informal communication with professional colleagues was also considered important for exchanging current research information. A large number of the participants felt that they had not been keeping in touch with scientific literature due to deficient library collections and services. This article recommends that science and technology libraries should periodically survey the information needs of their users, assess their collections and facilities, and strengthen their promotional activities.     

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主要从系统论的观点探讨了情报用户及其情报需求，从科学交流系统的观点论述了科学情报用户、文献情报机的地位、作用和联系及文献情报机构满足科学情报用户情报需求的基本方式，并从社会大系统的角度论述了科学情报用户及其情报需求的社会影响因素。     

The contribution of hospital library information services to clinical care: a study in eight hospitals

Hospital health sciences libraries represent, for the vast majority of health professionals, the most accessible source for library information and services. Most health professionals do not have available the specialized services of a clinical medical librarian, and rely instead upon general information services for their case-related information needs. The ability of the hospital library to meet these needs and the impact of the information on quality patient care have not been previously examined. A study was conducted in eight hospitals in the Chicago area as a quality assurance project. A total of 176 physicians, nurses, and other health professionals requested information from their hospital libraries related to a current case or clinical situation. They then assessed the quality of information received, its cognitive value, its contribution to patient care, and its impact on case management. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents asserted that they would definitely or probably handle their cases differently as a result of the information provided by the library. Almost all rated the libraries' performance and response highly. An overview of the context and purpose of the study, its methods, selected results, limitations, and conclusions are presented here, as is a review of selected earlier research.     

我国图书馆学情报学编辑部网站可用性构建问题与对策研究

论文总结和分析了我国图书馆学情报学编辑部网站存在的问题与用户需求,然后对编辑部网站信息构建可用性进行研究,最后对我国编辑部网站栏目设置与建设提出若干建议     

Information and poverty: information-seeking channels used by African American low-income households

This study investigated the information environment, including the information seeking and information needs, of low-income largely African American households at the Parks at Wynnewood in Dallas, Texas. These households were surveyed regarding their household situation and their need for community and information services. Residents' information-seeking behavior focused on their family and neighbors, with a lower use of external channels, except for health and employment information issues. A model of the residents' information environment is presented.     

Information for social and economic participation: A review of related research on the information needs and acquisition of rural Chinese

This paper provides an analytical overview of related literature published during the past decade on rural population's information needs and acquisition in China, with a view to informing the world research community and policy makers of what has been found about the information needs of the world's largest rural population and to promoting dialogue between interested researchers within and outside China. Results from related studies are summarized; major methodological features of these studies are noted; practical and theoretical implications of major findings are critically analyzed. Although the results from related studies are not directly comparable due to their differences in research methods and contexts, it is nevertheless possible to draw some common conclusions regarding the rural population's information needs and information source preferences. Related research has overwhelmingly showed that rural residents have an extensive range of information needs, with agricultural technological information, market information, income generation information and policy information being the most needed; and that they rely very much on interpersonal relationships for acquiring both general information and information for agriculture production. The primary objectives of most studies are pragmatic rather than theoretical.     

"双创"中投资决策信息需求的统计分析与启示

以央视《创业英雄汇》节目的233个创业项目为研究对象,设计指标体系并结合案例分析法对投资人的信息需求进行分析.分析结果表明:目前投资人对农林牧渔业更加关注项目规划信息,对轻工食品业更加关注产品组合以及供应商方面的信息,对信息产业更加关注技术环境信息,对服务业更加关注竞争格局的信息.最后在此分析的基础上提出3点建议.     

论网站信息咨询服务模式

目前,对于网站信息咨询概念的认识尚不统一。网站信息咨询的主要模式有:基于资源重组的知识化信息服务,依托应用系统的智能化服务,基于用户需求的个性化服务,基于实时联动的交互式咨询服务等等。网站咨询服务具有快捷方便、超越时空、动态发布、资源共享、智能管理、安全可靠、实时交互、服务主动等优点。其存在的问题主要表现于思想认识、经费投入和技术、法规保证方面。参考文献8。     

Health education for Somali Bantu refugees via home visits

Background: Somali Bantu refugees, with unique health information needs, created challenges for health and social service providers. Objectives: A service innovation was developed (i) to raise awareness, especially among local health and social service providers, about the Bantu refugees’ presence in the community, their culture, and their information needs and (ii) to deliver needed health information, emphasizing child health, to the Bantu mothers in their homes. Methods: The project consisted of: (i) a community conference targeting local health and social service providers, describing the refugees’ presence in the community, their culture, and information needs. (ii) Focus groups conducted with members of the Bantu population elicited additional information needs. (iii) Curriculum was developed based on identified needs, and (iv) the curriculum was delivered to the refugees in their homes. A clinical informationist and MP3 technology enhanced the project. Findings: Conference attendees’ evaluation responses indicated improved understanding of Bantu culture. Focus groups’ identification of health information needs provided a framework for the health education curriculum. A project website made educational materials available to other healthcare providers. Conclusions: The project raised awareness of the Bantus’ presence, culture, and information needs. Identification of other unmet needs demonstrated that additional support for refugees is required.     

青少年信息需求与利用的调查与分析——基于广东省茂名地区7所中学的调查

[目的/意义] 调查青少年的信息需求与利用行为特点,旨在了解他们的信息素质现状,从而唤起学校及公共信息服务机构对青少年信息素质培养的重视,为提高青少年信息素质水平发挥应有的作用。[方法/过程] 选取广东省茂名地区7所中学1000名学生作为调查对象,采用问卷调查法对中学生的信息需求与信息利用行为特点进行调查与分析,并对影响青少年信息需求与利用的障碍因素进行剖析。[结果/结论] 根据青少年信息需求与利用的特点,建议从信息化基础设施建设、信息素质基础教育、图书馆利用教育以及教师与馆员的专业化培养等方面着手,培养青少年的信息意识,提升信息利用水平,从而提高他们的信息素养。