JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Current medical profession involves an extensive knowledge of latest validated scientific data to implement disease diagnosis, therapeutic strategies, and patient care. Although clinicians can refer to a growing number and type of information sources to keep current with new scientific achievements, there are still various concerns about medical information validity, quality, and applicability into clinical practice. Therefore, novel strategies based on physicians’ real-life needs are required to improve modern medical information delivery.

Objective:

The present research investigated medical information needs and seeking behavior of Italian neurologists treating patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and migraineeal-life needs are required to improve modern medical information delivery.

Methods:

The study was designed as an exploratory mixed method (i.e. qualitative and quantitative) research and involved 15 consecutive days of observation. A total of 50 neurologists, i.e. 25 MS and 25 migraine specialists, were recruited. Data were collected using an instant messaging mobile application. Additionally, an online web-based semi-structured interview was administered to clinicians over the last 5 days of observation. Interactions and physicians’ queries collected using these tools were coded into emerging themes by content analysis.

Results:

Neurologists’ queries were relevant to the following major themes: therapy management (71% of the expressed needs) and drug-related information (67%), followed by diagnostic strategies and procedures (42%). Quantitative analysis indicated that online and offline resources were used in 96% and 47% of information-seeking events, respectively. A multichannel approach, in which both online and offline sources were consulted to meet the same information need, was adopted in 33% of information-seeking events. Neurologists more likely retrieved information from online relative to offline channels (F=1.7; p<0.01). MS specialists were 53% more likely to engage in one information-seeking event compared to migraine neurologists (RR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.16-2.05). Migraine specialists tended to seek information concerning therapy management more likely than MS specialists (85% vs 60%, p=0.05), whereas MS specialists tended to be more interested in patient-related topics (28% vs 10%, p=0.06). Migraine specialists used offline channels less frequently compared to MS neurologists (30% vs 60% of information seeking events, p<0.02). Migraine specialists had harder time finding the required information, either looking at online or offline cannels (F=12.5; p<0.01). When multiple sources needed to be consulted to retrieve an information, a reduced satisfaction rate was observed both among migraine specialists (single source vs multiple sources p<0.01) and MS specialists (p<0.01).

Conclusions:

Neurologists’ information needs and seeking behaviour reflect the specific characteristics of the specialty area in which they operate. These findings suggest that identification of time- and context-specific needs is required to design an effective medical information strategy. Delivery of personalized, accurate, consistent, and timely information to clinicians is essential to improve patient care.