This paper reports on a recent review of the literature of “information behaviour” as it is studied in a variety of disciplines, other than information science. As a result of the review, areas of research interest to information science are identified and a general model of information behaviour is proposed.

Information behaviour: an interdisciplinary perspective

More than just a pamphlet: development of an innovative computer-based education program for cancer patients.

The Library of the Health Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago obtained a grant from the Illinois State Library to implement a statewide demonstration project that would provide consumer health information (CHI) using InfoTrac's Health Reference Center CD-ROM database. The goals of the project were to cooperate with targeted public libraries and clinics in providing CHI at the earliest point of need ; to provide access to the database via a dial-up network server and a toll-free telephone number ; and to work with targeted sites on database training, core CHI reference sources, and referral procedures. This paper provides background information about the project ; describes the major systems and technical issues encountered ; and discusses the outcomes, impact, and envisioned enhancements.

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Networking Consumer Health Information: Bringing the Patient into the Medical Information Loop

Objectives To explore the use of research evidence by consumer and patient organizations and the extent to which their goals and activities are consistent with evidence-based health care and patient-centred care.



DesignA mailed survey, telephone and face-to-face interviews of leaders of organizations representing health care users.



SettingNorway.



Participants Sixty-nine of 109 questionnaires that were mailed were included in our analysis and approximately 20 interviews were conducted with representatives of general consumer and patient advocacy groups and interest groups that focus on particular diseases or disabilities.



MeasurementsInformation was collected on the goals of the organizations, the nature of their everyday work, the extent to which research information is required in this work and how research information is accessed and appraised.



ResultsAn important focus of many user groups is peer support. They tend to emphasize experience-based knowledge. A total of 82% of the respondents said that they often or sometimes had use for research results in their work. Research-based information is most often obtained indirectly through physicians or researchers.



ConclusionsNorwegian health care user organizations do not appear to promote evidence-based health care. To the extent that they help to disseminate scientific information, they appear to do so uncritically, relying on few sources and traditional authorities.

The use of evidence by health care user organizations

Previous studies focusing on the value of laboratory testing have sometimes been flawed because they had not always determined whether the data generated had been appropriately used by clinicians. It has been well documented that neither clinicians nor administrators always use objective data effectively. When data are not used appropriately by clinicians, not only are morbidity and mortality increased, but also care costs are higher. Failures by administrators result in lost opportunities to identify and correct system deficiencies. To provide information support to assure good data utilization, a prototype desktop workstation has been developed and partially implemented. Experience with such a system suggests that not only may it help provide better care more economically, but it can also aid in implementation of Practice Guidelines (Agency for Health Care Policy and Research) and Clinical Indicator (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) programs. Laboratorians can be influential in this effort and promote the use of new knowledge in patient care in a timely and responsible manner.

Data utilization, not data acquisition, is the main problem.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the need to provide access to information to support informed medical decision-making and to describe a working model for delivering such information. We report the findings on the users of an independent health information service (n = 1083), including: who uses this type of service; the types of information requested; and, the benefits for individuals and health care organizations.

B. S. Tuchfeld

Papers

Sharing information, sharing responsibility: helping health care consumers make informed decisions.