The study investigated the self-reported information needs and
information-seeking behaviour of 143 general practitioners in their delivery
of patient care to the elderly on the Gold Coast.
The study sought to obtain an information profile in order to begin
discussion on the need for possible infrastructures that may need to be
considered in any planning strategies concerned with access to and
provision of relevant, accurate and timely information to general
practitioners which affects their delivery of patient care to the growing
number of elderly patients.
A ten-page questionnaire utilising both structured and unstructured
questions was returned by 61.9 percent of the survey population.
Demographic characteristics indicated that respondents were representative
of general practitioners in Australia.
Respondents frequently needed information with 40 percent requiring it '1 -
4 times a week' and 78 percent 'once a month or more often'. Information
on medical fact was required most frequently, 29 percent, medical opinion
27 percent, and non-medical information 23 percent.
The study found support for the proposition that computerised information
systems need to be enhanced and made widely known and available to
general practitioners to assist them in obtaining information that they need
in delivery of patient care to the elderly. There is a great need by these
general practitioners for non-medical information as well as medical
information. Therefore, the development of a database of non-medical
information containing information on local agencies and services is of high
priority.
Library information delivery services should also be de-institutionalised in
terms of lifting restrictions to services provided to enable general
practitioners greater access to information. Library services should aim to
provide remote access to information via telephone, fax and modem with
emphasis on value added services aimed at solving a particular specific
information need as well as straight-out bibliographic search services and
document delivery services.
Continuing medical education in the form of CME courses, conferences and
meetings should focus on specific information needs of general practitioners
in this area of patient care to the elderly. The need for information on
cardiology, orthopaedics, dermatology, physiotherapy, podiatry,
pharmaceutical benefits, home help, Meals-on-Wheels and nursing home
placement were areas of particular interest identified by respondents in this
study.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218720 |
| Date | January 1994 |
| Creators | D'Arrietta, Louisa, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Information, Language & Culture |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Louisa D'Arrietta |
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