Bakgrund: Patienter på kirurgisk vårdavdelning uttrycker ett stort informationsbehov vid utskrivning och upplever att väsentlig information saknas. Enligt patientlagen har patienter rätt till individanpassad information och delaktighet i sin vård. Högt flöde av patienter på kirurgiska vårdavdelningar och förkortade vårdtider kan medföra att patienter behöver klara av många delar av sin egenvård i hemmet efter en operation Syfte: Att undersöka hur patienter som skrivits ut från kirurgisk vårdavdelning upplever att deras informationsbehov har tillgodosetts för att klara av den första tiden i hemmet. Metod: Kvalitativ intervjustudie med ett bekvämlighetsurval. Åtta patienter som vårdats på kirurgisk vårdavdelning inkluderades. Intervjuerna analyserades med systematisk textkondensering. Resultat: Det framkom tre teman som beskriver patienternas upplevelser av hur deras informationsbehov blev tillgodosett. Patienterna beskrev upplevelser av oro och rädsla på grund av bristande information om kroppens återhämtning efter kirurgi. En kunskapsbrist hos patienter efter utskrivning bidrog till upplevelser av osäkerhet kring egenvård. Anpassad information och möjlighet att ställa frågor ansågs vara viktigt. Slutsats: Trots att patienter på kirurgisk vårdavdelning upplever att de får välanpassad och användbar information inför hemgång är det inte tillräckligt för att de ska känna sig trygga i hemmet. Avsaknad av viktig information och kunskap skapade känslor av oro och rädsla. Det är viktigt att utforma utskrivningssamtalet med fokus på patientdelaktighet och patientens individuella behov. Här finns ett område för specialistsjuksköterskan inom kirurgisk vård med sin kompetens att förbättra. / Background: Patients treated in surgical wards require self-care information at discharge. They demand information that suits their needs and express a lack of essential information. Swedish regulation states that patients have the right to get individualized information and to be able to participate in their care. Due to the large volume of patients in surgical wards and shortened length of stay, patients may be required to handle more aspects of self-care at home. Aim: The aim is to understand how surgical patients feel their information needs have been met, in order for them to confidently take care of themselves after discharge. Method: Qualitative interview study with a convenience sample of eight patients treated in surgical wards, analyzed using systematic text condensation. Findings: Three themes emerged which explained how patients felt their information needs were met. Patients describe a sense of anxiety and fear at home due to lack of information concerning recovery after surgery. A lack of knowledge after discharge led to insecurities related to self-care. Adapted information and possibilities to ask questions were perceived as important. Conclusion: Patients treated in surgical wards perceive discharge information as well-adapted and useful. However, it is perceived as not being extensive enough. A lack of essential information, coupled with a lack of knowledge led to feelings of anxiety and fear. With these results in mind, it is important to individualize the information given to patients at discharge, and to improve the patient participation during this process. This is an area that registered nurses, specialized in surgical care, have potential to improve.

This study applied social disruption as a concept that highlights factors responsible for the breakdown of social relationships in societies. Social disruption has many forms, however, the focus in this study was on strikes, which create constant social disruption in Nigerian public universities and could have serious impact on students' information behavior. Two universities – Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) and Imo State University Owerri (IMSU) – were chosen for the study, and data was obtained through an online survey across sample of approximately 250 participants from the two selected public universities in Nigeria. The study applied the principle of least effort theory and the model of information search process to investigate the research questions of this dissertation which were: (1) what kinds of information do university students in Nigeria seek, and to what extent do strikes have implications on their information behavior?; (2) how do Nigerian students perceive the impact of strikes on their information source location and information resource usage?; (3) to what extent can information and communication technology (ICT) minimize the impact of strikes on students' information behavior?; and (4) how can universities in Nigeria prevent strikes from impacting students' information behavior? t-Tests were applied to test the hypotheses. Findings suggested that strikes negatively impacted students information behavior in certain areas of information needs, information use and information sources.

The present study focussed on the information needs of the academic staff of Batchelor College.* It examined their access to and the provision of adequate and appropriate resources for the implementation of the Diploma and Associate Diploma level courses offered through the College. Batchelor College, an institute of tertiary education, is situated 100 kilometres south of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The content and the modes of delivery of Batchelor College courses are specifically designed to be culturally and socially appropriate to Aboriginal people, particularly those from traditionally oriented and 'remote' communities. It can only be within this framework that informed and sensitive research can be conducted. The main purpose of the current study was to investigate the information needs of staff delivering higher education courses to 'remote' Aboriginal students of Northern Australia. Six distinct areas of study emerged: 1, to identify the information needs; 2, to analyse the information-seeking behaviour; 3, to assess the level of satisfaction with current information sources; 4, to identify inadequacies in the existing information seeking processes; 5, to identify constraints experienced; and 6, to explore how future information needs may be catered for. A mailed survey instrument was specifically designed and implemented, and it attracted a response rate of eighty-seven percent. The population under investigation was the academic staff of Batchelor College, and the variables of: 1, location; 2, sex; 3, academic school; 4, designation; 5, tenure; 6, length of service; and 7, educational background were studied in relation to the questions asked. Results of the survey were analysed using 'Mystat: Statistical Applications', (1990). Frequency distributions were computed to determine the number of respondents who selected each option. A number of questions that elicited a written response were analysed, as were the many extra comments staff members made throughout the survey. The study found that the academic staff of Batchelor College are most affected by the location variable. It appears that how staff members use, regard and value the information sources used to inform their academic practice is affected by where a staff member is located. That is, the more isolated a staff member was, both geographically and professionally, the more significant were the findings of use of information sources. The study concludes with considerations of future planning strategies that could improve the access to and use of information. The study also identifies areas for further research. * Batchelor College, an institute of tertiary education, is situated 100 kilometres south of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia (see Appendix 3).

SAMMANFATTNING Bakgrund De allt kortare vårdtiderna inom sjukvården ställer höga krav på patientinformationen som ges pre- och postoperativt. Forskning visar att patienternas informationsbehov inte alltid överensstämmer med mängden information som ges. Patienter upplever ofta att informationen som ges är otillräcklig och saknar relevans. God pre- och postoperativ information har många fördelar, då den leder till såväl ökad trygghet som bättre förutsättningar i det postoperativa förloppet.   Syfte Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur kirurgiska patienter vid en hudmottagning och en urokirurgisk vårdavdelning uppfattade den pre- och postoperativa information de fick i samband med kirurgi.   Design Studien var en enkätstudie med kvantitativ ansats och inkluderade 30 respondenter.   Resultat Resultatet visade att huvuddelen av patienterna uppgav att de hade läst den skriftliga informationen de fick. De hade också uppfattat att informationen var lättillgänglig. Majoriteten tyckte att den totala mängden information var tillräcklig. Vidare svarade majoriteten att de hade fått tillräcklig information om smärtlindring under vårdtiden. Hälften av respondenterna angav att de hade fått tillräcklig information om hur de kunde förebygga komplikationer. Ungefär hälften uppgav att de inte hade fått tillräcklig information om sårvård.   Slutsats Av resultatet drogs slutsatsen att patientinformationen som ges på de två enheterna verkar vara lättförståelig och tillräckligt omfattande, dock finns utrymme för förbättring, framförallt inom området komplikationer och sårvård. / ABSTRACT Background The shorter length of stay in hospitals place greater demands on the patient information that is given pre- and postoperative. Research shows that the amount of given information does not match with the patients’ informational needs. Patients often experience the given information as inconclusive and irrelevant. Good pre- and postoperative information has many benefits. It leads both to an increased sense of security and to better postoperative outcomes.   Purpose The purpose of the current study was to explore how surgical patients at a dermatology outpatient facility and an acute care urological surgery ward perceived the pre- and postoperative information in connection with the surgery.   Design The study was a quantitative survey and included 30 participants.   Findings The results showed that the majority of the patients stated that they had read the written pre- and postoperative information that they had received. They had also perceived the information as easily available. The majority of the patients reported that the total amount of the information was sufficient. Furthermore, the majority also replied that they had received sufficient information about relieving their pain during the hospital stay. Half of the subjects stated that they had received enough information about how to prevent complications. Half of the subjects claimed that they had not received enough information about wound care.   Conclusions Based on the results, it could be concluded that the patient information that was given at the two clinics appears to be easily understood and sufficiently extensive, though there is room for improvement, especially within the area of complications and wound care.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology in Information Technology in the Faculty of Informatics & Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology / Research on health informatics has seen a steady increase during this decade as the role of information technology in the health sector becomes pertinent. Findings of previous research in this domain have uncovered vast information needs of health workers, particularly in developing countries. However, there is a need to continue with multidisciplinary research in priority areas such as midwifery practice and in the environment of marginalised settings. This study explores the significance of the information needs and information-seeking behaviour or practice of midwives during the antenatal and intrapartum care within the environment of a midwifery unit. Additionally, the researcher obtained permission from Faculty of Informatics and Design – CPUT and Health department authority – Western Cape Government in South Africa, to conduct research in the Elsies River Midwifery Obstetric Unit (ERMOU). The research was carried out as case study in a Midwifery Obstetric Unit in the Western Cape, South Africa. The investigator conducted semi-structured interviews and observations to collect qualitative data of the antenatal and intrapartum care environment. The data was transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis and essomenic modelling. The findings comprehensively point to the importance of this research context. The study found that midwives acquired patients’ information from a handwritten Maternity Case Record (MCR) book and midwives’ colleagues, and often during handovers. In addition, midwives also communicate with each other during care activities in the ERMOU. It was apparent that the use of such communication practices is inadequate, and midwives did not always have sufficient information to make appropriate decisions in the ERMOU. All patient information, referral notes, and reporting is paper-based. In addition, essomenic models were used to depict the midwives’ work activities in the antenatal and intrapartum care environment in the Unit. Furthermore, essomenic models defined all the systematic processes that occur in the ERMOU which is described by midwives’ activities and work environment. To improve communication, future research is recommended to consider the importance of the continuity of the education of midwives. Further research will be on the implementation of nursing informatics and the electronic health record system in the Elsies River Midwifery Obstetric Unit.

This dissertation reports on an action research project that guided the development of the Goudmyn (www.onnet.up.ac.za), a web-based information resource for Afrikaans language teachers. The information needs and utilisation of information resources by 78 Afrikaans First Language teachers were determined by means of a questionnaire and focus group discussions. The quality of the Goudmyn as information resource for and Afrikaans teachers' utilisation thereof were formally assessed. From the data it is evident that Afrikaans language teachers do not utilise the Internet as an information resource to a high degree. Nevertheless, statistics of visits to the Goudmyn indicate that the resource is being utilised increasingly. Reasons for low levels of Internet utilisation by the respondents include the following: a lack of Internet access, time, training, relevant information, awareness of resources and integration of ICT skills into the curriculum. The study found that a web site such as the Goudmyn has the potential to play a central role in supporting Afrikaans language teachers, if the teachers are trained and made aware of the use and applications of the Internet for teaching purposes. / Thesis (MA (Information Science))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Information Science / unrestricted

The main objective of libraries in higher education institutions is to enable access to information that will meet the teaching, learning and research needs of the institutions’ communities (Department of Arts and Culture, 2015:18). Technology makes it easier to accomplish this by allowing librarians to embed products and services directly into the teaching, learning and research environments used by the communities. Course Management Systems such as Blackboard, are used by higher learning institutions to provide blended learning experiences. Many face-to-face lectures rely on an online module, and students appear to be more comfortable using the various online tools than ever before. For librarians, the online component of such a hybrid learning model is an opportunity to extend the traditional face-to-face library training and information literacy sessions into the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Virtually embedded librarians enable students’ access to library information online (Hoffman & Ramin, 2010:298) and libraries that have shifted towards embedding in online courses reach users at their point of need (Paganelli and Paganelli, 2017:55). If these statements are true, the question remains whether the end user is satisfied with the services rendered online or not. Many surveys have been conducted to assess users’ satisfaction with library resources and the quality of library services (Zhang, 2015:273). Some studies investigated library use patterns of different user groups but few studies focus on the needs of Engineering students (Zhang, 2015:273) and if these needs are being addressed by embedded library services and products. The objective of this research was to establish the role that Engineering students expect an Information Specialist to play in a VLE, to identify the products and services the Engineering students expect the Information Specialist to provide, and to what extent. This was done using a case study research design. As was expected, this research confirmed that the Engineering students recognise the importance of librarians embedding in their online modules. It is anticipated that librarians who embed online will be able to meet the needs of the students and build strong relationships with the students. If that does become the case, it is feasible to expect that the students’ use of library resources will increase. The next phase would be to build and launch a pilot project. Recommendations made for embedding in a VLE were (1) to consult with the faculty, library staff, and the instructional designer before the librarian attempts to launch embedded activities; (2) to identify the top in-demand products and services that can be embedded for each course as a matter of urgency; (3) to pilot the program with a few students and library staff and obtain feedback before the initiative is made publicly available to all students; and (4) to align the expectations or activities of the program with those of the course. / Mini Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2018. / Information Science / MIT / Unrestricted

This dissertation reports on a study that investigated the functions and services that are rendered at the library of ARC-Small Grain Institute in Bethlehem. The study was directed by the research questions that included the investigation in library services and sources globally; the information seeking behaviour of the patrons of the library as well as the skills and competencies needed by librarians to render an effective service in a constant changing environment. These components served as a foundation for the development of a proposed service model, which reflects the incorporation of the changing roles of librarians in a research library. The current services and sources of the ARC-SGI library were discussed and compared to other libraries. A systematic review of the literature included the information seeking behaviour and information needs of researchers as well as the skills and competencies of librarians. A mixed-method approach, using both qualitative and quantitative methods, has been applied in the study. Data was collected through questionnaires and fifteen semi-structured interviews were held with selected patrons of ARC-SGI. The findings showed that information needs depends mostly on the different stages of research and flows directly from the type of work that they do. Attention was given to preferred source choices and problems experienced during information seeking. Training needs were addressed as well as the needs for additional information needed from the library. Based on the results, the study proposed a service model for an agricultural library. The model displays the library within the setting of an organisation as it supports the mission and vision of the parent organisation. It illustrates all the interdependent components that are essential for a successful agricultural library. The model also outlines the strategies of on-going evaluation and monitoring of the library services; the information needs and information seeking behaviour of the patrons as well as the challenges facing the library. The study concluded by making certain recommendations that can benefit the library of ARC-SGI, which will be an improvement added to the current services. A few suggestions are made for future research, which have definite advantages for an agricultural library within an organisation. / Dissertation (MIS)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Information Science / unrestricted

in English This diploma thesis aims to map information behavior and information needs of farmers. The theoretical part describe these concepts in connection with the field of agriculture and adds a description of information sources that farmers use or may use in practice. The practical part is focused on the formulation and answering of research questions. These questions were answered in qualitative research, which was carried out using in-depth interviews. The research took place in February and March 2020 among farmers in the Benešov region. It brought a large amount of information concerning information needs, used information sources and related information behavior of respondents. These findings can serve as a basis for further research in this area. Keywords: information needs, information behavior, information sources, farmers, Benešov region,

Thesis (M. A. (Information Studies) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Information is an important element in the lives of citizens. Public libraries are drivers of access to information and knowledge, regardless of age, gender, race and political inclination. Entities such as public libraries have the role to play in providing informational, educational, recreational and cultural needs of the communities that they serve, but if they are challenged by issues such as underutilisation of some of their services, it calls for a prompt reaction. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. A questionnaire was used to collect data from library users at Moletji Public Library. Two-hundred and forty questionnaires were distributed, two-hundred and sixteen questionnaires were returned and were found to represent a 90% response rate which was usable for the analysis. The study found out that most users in Moletji Public Library preferred reading space and Internet over lending materials, and as a result, circulation statistics declined. Challenges such as walking a long distance to the library, limited resources, lack of space, noise and outdated books were also discovered by this study. The study provides Polokwane Municipality with valuable evidence of the underutilisation of services and resources at Moletji Public Library. It also suggests areas for improvement including training of personnel as well as more library infrastructure in previously marginalised communities. The study recommends that more computers and more space be provided and that libraries should keep up with the ever-changing needs of library users by conducting more studies about the needs of library users. This study reports the first Polokwane Municipality empirical study of the use of library services at Moletji Public Library. Keywords: Library; library users; information needs; information source; public library