The present study is based on the information needs and seeking behaviour of allopathic medical practitioners (general /specialists) in Trippur district, Tamilnadu, India. Research design was preplanned and systematic method of data collection, analysis and interpretation was presented. Survey method was adopted for collection of primary data and pre-tested questionnaire was tool of data collection. Dependent and independent variables are used for data analysis and results are shown

Allysornam, S.

Murugan, B. O. Sathivel

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal) Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln 4-2011 Information Needs and Information-Seeking Behaviour of Allopathic Medical Practitioners in Tirppur District in Tamilnadu, India B. O. Sathivel Murugan IRT-Perundurai Medical College, irtsathivel@yahoo.co.in S. Allysornam Bishop Heber College, ally_jelen@yahoo.co.in Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac  Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Murugan, B. O. Sathivel and Allysornam, S., "Information Needs and Information-Seeking Behaviour of Allopathic Medical Practitioners in Tirppur District in Tamilnadu, India" (2011). Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 594. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/594  http://unllib.unl.edu/LPP/Library Philosophy and Practice 2011Information Needs andInformation-SeekingBehaviour of AllopathicMedical Practitioners inTirppur District in Tamilnadu,IndiaB.O. Sathivel MuruganLibrarianIRT-Perundurai Medical College, Perundurai – 638 053 IndiaDr. S. AllysornamAssociate Professor & HeadP.G. & Research Department of LISBishop Heber CollegeTiruchirappalli, IndiaIntroduction:Medical professionals must continuously develop their professional and personalabilities for better treatment and diagnosis procedures (Pillay 2004). Thephenomenal development of modern scientific medicine in the turn of 20th centuryhas made dramatic changes in the quality and quantity of knowledge andapplications in the field of health care (Elizabeth 2008). The growth of medicinebranches has been phenomenal; there has been an explosion of new knowledge inthese areas in the last decade. The numerous publications books, journals, andnews-letters are the indicators of the parameters (Singhi, Sunit, Surpure, SJagannath 2010). Physicians seek information regarding various issues in medicalcare especially in drug information (Fly, Burch, Vinson 1992)Review of LiteraturePremsmit (1990) study results among the academic medical scientists in Thailandrevealed the three types of information needs: identifying up-to-date information,obtaining relevant studies and data, and developing research topics.Rajan, et al., (2009) carried out a study on information seeking behaviour ofclinicians in a semi-urban town in South India. Result of the study indicated thatmany clinicians used textbooks, drug indexes like CIMS/MIMS and less use ofjournals and internet for information seeking.Gorman (2001) surveyed the information needs in primary centers. The resultsreveal that, physicians in USA used Physicians Desk Reference is the mostcommonly used resources for immediate references.Laila (2010) has found out that the social science faculties heavily depend onbooks and journals for teaching. Their use of informal sources is comparativelyless than formal sources. Journals and books are considered as the mostimportant for sources to meet their needs. Among the informal sourcesconferences, subject experts, and colleagues are given higher importance thanlibrarians and government officials.Bennet et al., (2005) survey results show that in developed countries like USA,physicians in their day-to-day practice increasingly use computers. 80% ofphysicians have hand held computers used for accessing the electronic journals,medical textbooks, downloadable journals/books, and patient tracking programs.Zawai (2001), study findings reveals that are, biomedical scientists who weresolely involved in research work considered journal articles as the most preferredinformation sources.AimAim of this study is to find out the information needs and seeking behaviour ofallopathic medical practitioners (general /specialists) in Tirppur district, Tamilnadu,India.ObjectivesThe following main objectives are framed to conduct this study. The objectives are1. To find out the medical practitioners need for clinical information2. To find out the medical practitioners use of formal, informal, digital and otheronline sources.Research Designa. Universe of the sample: Allopathic medical practitioners in Tirppur district,in Tamilnadu, India are the universe of the sample. There are 730 medicalpractitioners working in this district. Study sample details are collected from thegovernment hospitals and IMA members' lists.b. Sample selection procedure: Stratified random sampling method isadopted for selection of the samples. Gender, educational qualification, and workplace are the main classification of the samples.c. Study samples: Among the total sample 10% of the samples are selected forthis study. Based on the stratified random sampling method the samples areclassified by gender, educational qualification, experience, and work place.Selected sample details are shown in the table numbers, 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.d. Study variable: The following independent and dependent variables areidentified for analysis the datai. Independent variablesa. genderb. educational qualificationc. experienced. work placeii. Dependent variablesa. needed clinical informationb. used formal sourcesc. informal sourcesd. digital and on-line sourcese. Methods of data collection: Survey method is used for collection of theprimary data. Pre-tested questionnaire was used for data collection tool.f. Assumptions of this study: Based on the aim, objectives, and studyvariables the following assumptions are madei. Medical practitioners' clinical information needs would be more common /general.ii. Medical practitioners would be using different types information sources.g. Hypothesis: based on the assumption the following hypotheses are framed toanalysis the collected data.i. There is a significant association / difference between the educationalqualifications / workplace / experiences of the respondents with regard to thereclinical information needsii. There is a significant association / difference between the educationalqualifications / workplace / experience of the respondents with regard to use ofinformation sources.Data AnalysisCollected data are tabulated based on the educational qualification, Place of work,and experience.Table 1. Details of study sample based on educational qualification and gender.GenderEducational QualificationTotalUG PGD PGMale 11(26.19) 14(33.33) 17(40.48) 42Female 7(22.58) 11(35.48) 13(41.94) 31Total 18(24.66) 25(34.45) 30(41.10) 73(100)( Figures in parenthesis are percentages)The above table 1 express the study participants' gender and their educationalqualification. Among the total respondents 73, 18(24.66) having UG (MBBS)degree, 25(34.45) having PGD (MBBS with Diploma), and 30(41.10) having PG(MD/MS/DNB) qualification. The study also reveals that more number of womendoctors (41.94) involved than male counter part. The following chart no. 5.1.1. alsoexpressed pictorial view of the above data.Table 2. Details of the study participants' gender and place of work.GenderPlace of workTotalRural Suburban UrbanMale 10 (23.81) 17 (40.48) 15 (35.71) 42Female 13 (41.94) 9 (29.03) 9 (29.03) 31Total 23 (31.51) 26(35.62) 24(32.88) 73(100)(Figures in parenthesis are percentages)Table 2 shows the respondents gender and their place of work. Among the totalsample, 23(31.51) samples are working in rural area, 26(35.62) are working in sub-urban, and 24(32.88) are working in the urban area of the study regions. It is alsoinferred that compare to male doctors, majority of female doctors works in rural(41.94) and sub-urban (29.03) area. The following chart no.5.2.1. expressedpictorial view of the above data.Table 3. Details of the study participants' gender and the experience.GenderExperience in yearsTotal>5yrs 5 & <10yrs10 & <15 yrs 15 & <20 yrs 20 & <25 yrs 25 yrs and aboveMale 4 3 10 12 5 8 42Female 5 3 8 6 7 2 31Total 9(12.33)6(08.20)18(24.66)18(24.66)12(16.44)10(13.7)73(100)(Figures in parenthesis are percentages)Experience of the practitioners is classified into six categories. The above tableshows the details of the gender of the respondents and their experiences. Amongthe total samples, 9(12.33) respondents having less than 5yrs, 6(8.20) having 5-10 yrs, 18(24.66) having 10-15yrs, 18(24.66) having 20-25yrs, and 10(13.70)having more than 25yrs of experience in the allopathic medical practice.Table 4. Details of the Practitioners Needed Clinical Information Vs Educationalqualification, Work Place and ExperienceS.No Needed ClinicalInformationEducationalQualificationWork Place ExperienceP value Significance P value Significance P value Significance1 ClinicalEpidemiology4.996df6NS 5.437 df8NS 11.655df 20NS2 Diagnosis / Etiology 6.087 df NS 8.514 df NS 18.997 NS8 8 df 203 Diagnosticprocedures4.317 df6NS 4.998 df6NS 18.345df 15NS4. DifferentialDiagnosis1.791 df6NS 10.561df6NS 8.950 df15NS5. DiseaseDescriptions6.098 df6NS 6.535df8NS 9.797 df15NS6. DiseaseComplications9.599 df8NS 6.994 df8NS 14.809df 20NS7. Disease Prognosis 6.213 df8NS 10.391df8NS 17.115df 20NS8. Treatment DrugTherapy5.635 df8NS 7.689df8NS 20.484df 20NS9. Treatment Adverseeffect6.986 df8NS 8.354df8NS 22.021df 20NS10. Treatment Efficacy 3.333 df8NS 4.143 df8NS 18.472df 20NS11. Follow-up 6.138 df8NS 9.841df8NS 14.748df 20NS12. Emergency Protocol 6.649 df8NS 9.145df8NS 21.912df 20NSTable 4 shows that the practitioners needed clinical information and theireducational qualification, workplace, and experience. Test the hypothesis1, thestatistical result reveals that there is no significant difference / association betweenthe needed clinical information and practitioners' educational qualification,workplace, and experience.Table 5. Details of the practitioners use of formal sources Vs educationalqualification, work place and experienceS.No Used formal sources EducationalQualificationWork Place ExperienceP value Significance P value Significance P value Significance1. Text Book 5.515df 6NS 5.997df3NS 10.73df 15NS2. Reference Book 11.181df 8NS 9.742df 8NS 25.872df 20HS3. CIMS/IDR/DDR/MIMS 18.518 HS 16.559 HS 20.907 NSdf 8 df8 df204. Drug informationsheet7.558df 8NS 6.335df 8NS 13.049df20NS5. Printed journal 16.163df 8HS 6.753df 8NS 21.682df20NS6. Review Articles 16.163df 8HS 6.753df 8NS 21.682df20NS7. Information Bulletin 8.168df8NS 5.571df 8NS 17.556df20NS8 Association NewsLetters16.122df 8HS 5.758df 8NS 32.201df 20HS9. Conferenceproceedings2.333df 8NS 7.959df 8NS 22.881df20NS10. News Paper 3.953df8NS 7.283df 8NS 12.291df 20NSTable 5 describes the practitioners used formal information sources and theireducational qualification workplace, and experience. Test the hypothesis 2, there isa significant association between the practitioners educational qualification and thefollowing information sources like, CIMS/IDR/DDR/MIMS, printed journals, reviewarticles, and association news letters. Based on work place, there is a significantassociation between the practitioners' work place and the usedCIMC/IDR/DDR/MIMS. In experience, use of reference books and associationnews-letters are statistically significantly associated with practitioners' experience.Table 6. Details of the practitioners use of informal sources Vs educationalqualification, work place and experienceS.No Used informalsourcesEducationalQualificationWork Place ExperienceP value Significance P value Significance P value Significance1. Informal sources1. Discussion withcolleague4.143 df8NS 7.378 df8NS 27.164df 20NS2. Subject experts 4.303 df8NS 10.249df 8NS 15.786df 20NS3. Conference /workshops6.917 df8NS 7.595 df8NS 22.881df 20NS4. Medical Librarian 11.240 NS 5.345 df NS 15.718 NSdf 8 8 df 205. Medicalrepresentatives20.858df 8HS 13.600df 8NS 28.706df 20NSTable 6 shows that the medical practitioners use of informal sources and theireducational qualification, work place and experience. Medical representative is oneof the influencing informal sources of information for the medical practitioner. Thereis a significant association between the practitioners' educational qualification anddiscussion with medical representatives. Remaining depending and independentvariables are not significantly associated with each other.Table 7. Details of the practitioners use of informal sources Vs educationalqualification, work place and experienceS.No. Used Digital and On-linesourcesEducationalQualificationWork Place ExperienceP value Significance P value PvalueSignificance Pvalue1. TV 18.630 df8HS 11.463df 8NS 29.616 df20NS2. Audio 11.740 df8NS 16.310df 8HS 17.446 df20NS3. Video 5.379 df8NS 17.968df 8HS 18.882 df20NS4. Floppies 4.752 df8 NS 13.033df 8NS 25.368 df20NS5. CD/DVD 6.992 df8NS 5.093 df8NS 28.990 df20NS6. E-Journals 13.423 df8NS 7.944 df8NS 19.807 df20NS7. E-Book 9.770 df8NS 6.142 df8NS 19.206 df20NS8. Access to MedicalDatabase12.657 df8NS 12.903df 8NS 25.257 df20NS9. Internet 15.944 df8S 2.791 df8NS 26.268 df20NSTable 7 shows the medical practitioners use of digital and online sources.Statistical analysis result shows that, there is a significant association between theeducational qualification and the use of television and internet. Similarly, there is asignificant association between the work place and audio, video sources. Andremaining sources does not have significant relationship between them.Summary of the StudyThere is no bias between the study samples gender, educationalqualification, and work place.There is no significant difference / association between the needed clinicalinformation and practitioners' educational qualification, workplace, andexperience.There is a significant association between the following information sourceslike, CIMS/IDR/DDR/MIMS, printed journals, review articles, associationnews letter and practitioners educational qualification.There is a significant association between the practitioners work place andthe used CIMC/IDR/DDR/MIMS.Reference books and association news-letters are statistically significantlyassociated with practitioners' experience.There is a significant association between the practitioners' educationalqualification and discussion with medical representatives.There is a significant association between the educational qualification andthe use of television and internet.There is a significant association between the work place and audio, videosourcesConclusionThis study results show that the medical practitioners in developing countries needmore awareness about the use of various information sources (including digital) fortheir professional/personal competency developments. They may utilize the varioustraining programs (PDC( Professional Development Course of ten weeks durationfor district level medical officers, RTI/STI in RCH, RCH-2, EmOC (EmergencyObstetric Care, MTP(Medical Termination of Pregnancy), etc.,) offered by thegovernment of India (11). Government of India is providing Continuing MedicalEducation (CME) programs for the medical practitioner offered not only for thegovernment doctors and also qualified private practitioners. The trainingprogrammes offered by the government could include a separate module on"Information literacy for medical practitioners' which may include digital informationliteracy skills.ReferencesBennet NL, Casebeer LL, Kristfco R, and Collins BL, (2005). Family Physicians'information seeking behaviour: A survey comparisons with other specialties. BMCMedical Informatics and Decision making 2005; 5:9 date of access 14.06.2010http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1079859/Elizabeth, K.E. (2008). Pediknots Pediatric Case studies. PeePee Publications,New Delhi.Fly, J.W., Burch R I., Vinson D C., (1992), The Information needs of familyphysicians case-specific clinical questions. J.Fam Pract,; 35(3): 265-9Gorman P. (2001). Information needs in primary care: a survey of rural and non-rural primary care physicians. Med Info; 10(1) : 338-42.Laila Naif Marouf, Prof. Mumtaz A. Anwar (2010). Information seeking behavior ofthe Social Science faculty at Kuwait University; 59(9)http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/02425351080001368 Accessed on14.06.2010.Mathur, Shiv Chandra, (2009),Trainings in Health Sectors: Need for a ParadigmShift. Indian Journal of Community Medicine; 34(4):271-2Pillay, V V. ( 2004). Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. 14th Ed. ParasPublication, Hyderabad.Premist, P. (1990). Information needs of academic medical scientists atChulaongkorn University. Bull Med Libr Assoc 78(4): 383-7. Rajan S., Sreedharan, Khan SA, and Rao (PGM) (2009). Information seekingbehaviour of clinicians in a semi-urban town in south India. Indian Practitioner,62(1): 5-9Singhi, Sunit and Surpure, S Jagannath, (2010). Synopsis of Pediatric EmergencyCare. PeePee Publications, New Delhi.Zawawi S., and Majid S, (2001), The information needs and seeking behaviour ofthe IMR Biomedical scientists, Malaysian Journal of Library & Information Science,; 5(1): 25-41

Information Needs and Information-Seeking Behaviour of Allopathic Medical Practitioners in Tirppur District in Tamilnadu, India

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1626&amp;context=libphilprac

Information Needs and Information-Seeking Behaviour of Allopathic Medical Practitioners in Tirppur District in Tamilnadu, India

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska