Last update:
   05-Aug-2017
 

Arch Hellen Med, 34(4), July-August 2017, 483-490

ORIGINAL PAPER

Factors associated with online information retrieval behavior of health professionals

P. Lialiou,1 J. Mantas,1 J. Pavlopoulou,2 P. Galanis3
1Health Informatics Laboratory, Faculty of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens,
2Pediatric Research Laboratory, Faculty of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens,
3Center for Health Care Management and Evaluation, Faculty of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

OBJECTIVE To investigate the awareness and use of online information retrieval systems by health professionals in clinical practice.

METHOD A cross-sectional study was performed with a sample of 439 physicians and nurses from primary and secondary health care, using a questionnaire measuring retrieval behavior, utilization of online evidence, and reasons for and barriers to information retrieval. Data collection took place, simultaneously, online and by printed distribution of the instrument.

RESULTS The mean age of the respondents was 38.9 years and the mean duration of their work was 12.6 years. Health professionals with experience in using computers and a high level of education appeared to have a greater likelihood of using bibliographic databases (p<0.027). Participants with postgraduate studies more often reported finding the information they were looking for in electronic databases (p<0.001). The main obstacles to using bibliographic databases were lack of access and the culture of using other information sources.

CONCLUSIONS More technical, educational and organizational support in the use of electronic evidence databases is needed for physicians and nurses, to promote elicitation of knowledge and information with a view to improving the patient care that they provide.

Key words: Information retrieval, Online bibliographic databases, Online evidence, Retrieval systems.

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