Advances in information technology (IT) and the global shift from governance to e-governance in the public sector have motivated Uganda to put in place a robust information communication technology (ICT) infrastructure to enhance citizen access to e-information and information flow for e-governance in its local governments. However, this has not been realized due to a lack of functional information systems. This study investigated critical issues in information access and flow in Isingiro district and Mbarara municipality – two of Uganda’s upper local governments – with the aim of modeling an information system to support e-governance in these governments. Rooted in a pragmatist epistemology with an orientation towards mixed methods research (MMR), the study adopted a methodological triangulation technique. A convergent design was adopted that involved the concurrent collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. A random sampling scheme was used to select 360 participants from 8 study sites for a questionnaire survey, while a purposive sampling scheme was used to select 64 people to participate in 8 focus group discussions (FGDs) and 25 in key informant interviews. The findings of the study indicate that citizen access to e-governance information in the local governments is low. Information flow to the citizens is constrained by lack of affordable media outlets, so the local governments are forced to keep frequency of government to citizen (G2C) communication to a bare minimum. Worse still, government communication lacks formal programming: neither is it based on an information needs assessment of the citizens nor does it have a feedback mechanism. There are also myriad factors breeding inequality and social disadvantage within the communities that constrain citizen access to ICT tools and e-skills. The findings show also that the current e-governance models are ICT-intensive and highly reliant on the Internet, so they require higher e-skills levels and higher diffusion of ICT tools than those currently available in developing countries. The models are also largely civil society oriented. However, a SWOT analysis shows that the local governments have the capacity to implement a home-grown, hybrid e-governance system of information access and flow. The study recommends inter alia that the local governments establish their own broadcasting services, base their public communications on citizen e-information needs, and design multi-media communication strategies combining traditional and convergent media. More importantly, the study recommends the implementation of an interactive, hybrid and multimedia e-governance information system, whose model it articulates. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

Submitted by Josimara Dias Brumatti (bcgdigital@ndc.uff.br) on 2017-01-30T14:40:30Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO_ELIANA ROSA DA FONSECA.pdf: 2004362 bytes, checksum: e97d5d0c63056ebe882781d565b6624a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Geisa Drumond (gmdrumond@vm.uff.br) on 2017-01-31T13:36:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO_ELIANA ROSA DA FONSECA.pdf: 2004362 bytes, checksum: e97d5d0c63056ebe882781d565b6624a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-31T13:36:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO_ELIANA ROSA DA FONSECA.pdf: 2004362 bytes, checksum: e97d5d0c63056ebe882781d565b6624a (MD5) / Aborda-se o tema da literacia em informação na área de Saúde, estudado no ambiente da biblioteca setorial especializada vinculada ao Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho da UFRJ. Estas duas unidades – biblioteca e hospital – consistiram no campo empírico da pesquisa, cuja descrição abrangeu aspectos históricos que remontam às origens de ambas bem como contemplou a configuração que apresentam nos dias de hoje. Destacam-se como elementos importantes que integram o ambiente da biblioteca, os atores sociais – bibliotecário e usuário – os serviços ali prestados, as fontes de informação mais utilizadas sublinhando-se, por sua especificidade e importância, a revisão sistemática. Os operadores teóricos cujo exame implicou em pesquisa bibliográfica realizada em bases de dados brasileiras e internacionais das áreas das ciências da saúde, ciência da informação e algumas bases multidisciplinares encontram-se assim elencados: literacia em informação, interação, abrangendo, por sua vez necessidades de informação, mediação e serviço de referência. Os métodos adotados foram os da pesquisa documental e a observação participante, cujo emprego exigiu, no primeiro caso, a busca e a utilização de relatórios técnicos, formulários de consulta e outros materiais gerenciais produzidos pela biblioteca. No segundo caso, foram utilizadas as anotações feitas no diário de campo, criado para o registro de fatos observados durante a pesquisa ou lembrados e registrados no referido instrumento. Para demonstrar a complexidade inerente ao processo de obtenção de literacia por parte do usuário, conforme os objetivos da pesquisa, elegeram-se casos ilustrativos de diferentes demandas de informação, tomados como emblemáticos, pois implicam na compreensão e no atendimento dos requisitos inerentes às peculiaridades dos recursos informacionais utilizados para tal. O processo consiste em aprendizagem que é aqui concebida como obtenção de literacia em informação. Esta, uma vez alcançada, propiciará maior autonomia e o desenvolvimento de competências por parte do usuário para ver satisfeitas as suas necessidades de informação. / his study approaches the topic of information literacy in the Health area, specifically at the environment of the sectoral specialized library linked to the Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital from UFRJ. These two units – library and hospital – consisted in the empirical research field, whose description included historical aspects dating back to the origins of the configuration of both of them and how they work now a days. The library environment has important elements, such as social actors - librarian and user -, the provided services, the most used sources of information stressing “the systematic review” on its importance and specificity. The theoretical operators whose examination resulted in literature search have undertaken databases of Brazilian and international areas of health sciences, information science and some multidisciplinary databases are listed as well: information literacy, interaction, covering information needs, mediation and referral service. The methods adopted were the documentary research and participant observation, whose employment required in the first case the search and use of technical reports, inquiry forms and other materials produced by the library management. In the second case, the notes taken in the field diary were used, created to record facts observed during the survey or remembered and recorded on this instrument. To demonstrate the complexity inherent in the process of achieving literacy by the user, according to the research objectives, this work elected illustrations of different demands for information. Taken as emblematic cases, they imply in understanding and meeting the requirements inherent to the peculiarities of information resources used. The process consists of learning what is here meant as obtaining information literacy. This, once achieved, will lead to greater autonomy and skills development for the user to see fulfilled their information needs.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / A review of the literature has shown that there is a lack of mental health information on which to base planning of mental health services and decisions concerning programme development for mental health services. Several studies have indicated that the use of an evidence-based health information system (HIS) reduces inappropriate clinical practices and promotes the quality of health care services. This study was aimed at developing a framework for a district-based mental health information management system, utilising the experiences of health care providers and caregivers about a district mental health information system (DMHIS). Activity Theory was used as the philosophical foundation of the information system for the study. A qualitative approach was employed using semi-structured individual interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), systematic review and document analysis. The intervention research design and development model of Rothman and Thomas (1994) was used to guide the study, which was conducted in the Cape Town Metropole area of the Western Cape. A purposive, convenient sampling method was employed to select study participants. Ethical clearance for the study was obtained from the University of the Western Cape, and permission to use the health facilities from the Department of Health. The data collection process involved 62 individual interview participants, from mental health nurses to district health managers, health information clerks, and patient caregivers/families and persons with stable mental conditions. Thirteen caregivers took part in the FGDs. Document review was conducted at three community mental health centres. The data were analysed manually using content analysis. Core findings of the interviews were lack of standardized information collection tools and contents for mental health, information infrastructure, capacity building, and resources. Information processing in terms of collection, compiling, analysing, feedback, access and sharing information were the major problems. Results from document analysis identified inconsistencies and inaccuracies of information recording and processing, which in turn affected the quality of information for decision making. Results from the systematic review identified five functional elements: organizational structure; information infrastructure; capacity building; inputs, process, output and feedback; and community and stakeholders’ participation in the design and implementation of a mental health information system (MHIS). The study has contributed a framework for a DMHIS based on the findings of the empirical and systematic review. It is recommended that there is a need to establish a HIS committee at district health facility level for effective implementation of the framework and quality information processing. There is a need to ensure that staffs have adequate knowledge and skills required for effective implementation of an information system. It is recommended that higher education institutions include a course on HISs in their curriculum. It is suggested that the South African Mental Health Policy be reviewed to include an MHIS and ensure involvement of the community and stakeholders in this system as well as adequate budget allocation.

This dissertation reports on an analysis conducted to establish the electronic research needs experienced by postgraduate students at higher education institutions within an increasing electronic research environment. Innovation and improvements in technology have caused research students to approach the library with a whole range of needs and expectations undreamed of in the nonelectronic library. A quantitative research instrument was mainly used to gather data, together with the results from a user survey. This study is therefore regarded as a quantitative study. From both the literature survey and research for this study it became clear that postgraduate students in South Africa and throughout the world experience similar e-research needs with regard to primary data sharing, transfer of data and computation, e-access, e-communication, e-training and e-publishing. By taking the specific needs of postgraduate students into account, the library will be able to create an electronic research environment distinguished by ease of use and access - the principal and most valued research partner in a postgraduate students’ pursuit of academic distinction and success. / Dissertation (M.Ed (Computer-integrated Education))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

This PhD thesis explored the experiences of dependent children and children care-givers facing challenges with their parent s cancer. The aim was to understand children s information experience including their perception of cancer and information culture; information needs, information seeking behaviour, barriers and enablers. The research used a six-stage process. This was informed by an extensive literature review and discussions with cancer specialists, psychologists and researchers from United Kingdom, United States, Australia and Malaysia. This study used a three-cycle, eight-step process of Participative Action Research (PAR) with participation from ten Malay breast cancer patients and their dependent children. Three bilingual (English and Bahasa Malaysia) instruments were developed; 1) An Inquiry to Participate Form to select participants who had dependent children, 2) Three opened-ended questions to obtain children s cancer experience and information needs where drawing was used to encourage children s responses and, 3) A 15-question questionnaire to understand children s experience and information preference. Cancer affected parenting abilities and challenging experiences identified the lack of culturally relevant information and the shift in caregiving responsibilities to dependent children. Children s understanding of cancer was influenced by their experiences and observations, many of which resulted in misconceptions about cancer, its causes, treatment and preventative measures. Children participant s reaction to a health situation triggered their information behaviour. The burden of caregiving and the consequences of a lack of information were greater than anticipated; children had many dimensions of concern and experienced many challenges. This advocated for a more assessable, attractive and sensitive information system. Data synthesis contributed to the development of a Children s Reactive Information Seeking Behaviour An Integrated Model that seeks to explain the relationship between children participants reaction to a health situation and the subsequent processes they undergo to resolve their state of information need.

Background: The East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine Library has participated for several years in projects to provide rural clinicians with health information resources. Objectives: To determine whether a strategy of hand‐held devices with a best‐evidence point‐of‐care disease tool and a drug database paired with access to a medical library for full‐text articles and training to use the tools would be an affordable way to meet the information needs of rural underserved clinicians. Methods: This study is a mixed‐methods methodology. The first project was evaluated using a randomised controlled trial (RCT) methodology. The second was evaluated qualitatively using interviews and focus groups. Results: The quantitative findings discovered that clinicians equipped with a hand‐held device with evidence‐based software more frequently found answers to clinical questions, found answers more quickly, were more satisfied with information they found and use expensive resources such as continuing medical education, online databases and textbooks less than the group that did not have access to online technology. Qualitative results supported the quantitative findings. Conclusion: Librarians can implement a three‐pronged strategy of the secondary literature via a hand‐held, the primary literature via Loansome Doc and quality training to meet basic information needs of rural clinicians.

The aim of the thesis is to explore which attributes of expression and attributes of manifestation are commonly found in bibliographic records and compare them with the information needs of users. The research is focused on the Union catalog of the Czech Republic - CASLIN. In the theoretical part there are presented problems with attributes of expression and attributes of manifestation in model FRBR. In the research part there was performed content analysis of several bibliographic records owing to problems of attributes of expression and attributes of manifestation. In the research section there was made the analysis of information needs of users, too. As qualitative research methods were selected observation of participants and semi-structured interviews with respondents. The result of this thesis should be a comparison between reality in library catalogs and information needs of users.

Mgr. Ivana Příbramská: Informační systémy ve vysokém školství s důrazem na identifikaci uživatelů, informačních potřeb a jejich uspokojování (dizertační práce) Abstract Focus of this thesis is on users in tertiary education and on the extent, to which their information needs are met by information systems and resources provided by both higher education institutions and other organizations. Second chapter sets up a theoretical framework, summarizing research in the field of the information seeking and information seeking behavior, models of information seeking, information needs and their satisfaction. Third chapter describes higher education area and its role in information provision to the users (coming from both within and outside the area); all users within this area are classified and their information needs and sources for satisfaction of these needs are listed. Fourth chapter is concerned with information systems in higher education in Czech Republic including classifications used within this field, national systems collecting data from higher education institutions and short description of three local information systems. Final chapter describes two examples of implementation process and further development of two particular information systems used at the Charles University in Prague and on the...

Diploma thesis " Information and library services for students of art schools with a focus on dramatic and musical art in the Czech Republic " aims to analyze the environment of libraries with a fund focused on music and theater, which serves students of art schools. This thesis also describes library and information services and the impact of copyright law to provide services in libraries with a fund containing score, audio and audiovisual media. The last section describes methodology of qualitative research and evaluates research by force field analyzing method and also analyzed findings and recommendations to address the identified facts.

The aim of the diploma thesis is to describe and analyse information sources, which are useful for the molecules portfolio selection suitable for the future development of a generic drug. These information sources should be examined on the case study of the portfolio selection in a given therapeutic area. The topic of the diploma thesis is presented in the context of basic principles and functions of the generic farmaceutical industry and its information needs. The introductory chapter characterizes the farmaceutical industry in general and warn on a competitive environment, which the farmaceutical companies can succeed in thanks to the advanced methods of the business intelligence. The second chapter focuses on the differences betwen the generic and original pharmaceutical industry, a drug lifecycle is also introduced there. The next chapter specifies the methods of the business intelligence in the generic pharmaceutical industry on the ground of its information needs. The fourth chapter plays a key role. First of all, it introduces general characteristics of information sources used in the strategic portfolio management. Secondly, the detailed description and analysis of eight main information sources used by the generic companies within business intelligence follows. In the last chapter these...