Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
Winter 4-12-2020
Document Type
Article
Citation
Andualem, M., Kebede, G., & kumie, A. (2013). Information needs and seeking behaviour among health professionals working at public hospital and health centres in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Andualem et al. BMC Health Services Research, 13, 534.
Anwar, M. A., Al-Ansari, H., & Abdullah, A, (2004). Information seeking behaviour of Kuwaiti journalists. Libri 54(4), 228-236.
Bryant, S. L. (2004). The information needs and information seeking behavior of family doctors. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 21(2), 84–93.
Callen, J. L., Buyankhishig, B. & McIntosh, J. H. (2008). Clinical information sources used by hospital doctors in Mongolia. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 77, 249-255.
Coumou, H. C. H., & Meijman, F. J. (2006). How do primary care physicians seek answers to clinical questions? : A literature review. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 94(1), 55-60.
Flynn, M. G., & McGuinness, C. (2011). Hospital clinicians information behavior and attitudes towards the Clinical Informationist: An Irish survey. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 28(1), 23–32.
Gonzalez-Gonzalez, A. I., Dawes, M., Sanchez-Mateos, J., Riesgo-Fuertes, R., Escortell-Mayor, E., Sanz-Cuesta, T., & Hernandez-Fernandez, T. (2007). Information needs and information-seeking behaviour of primary care physicians. Annals of Family Medicine 5(4), 345-352.
Ijiekhuamhen, O. P., & Omosekejimi, A. F. (2016). Rural women and their information seeking behavior. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 1396. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1396
Ijiekhuamhen, O. P., Edewor, N., & Emeka-Ukwu, U. (2016). Elderly people and their information needs. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal) 1332. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1332
Jackson, R., Baird, W., Davis-Reynolds, L., Smith, C., Blackburn, S., & Allsebrook, J. (2007). The information requirements and information-seeking behaviours of health and social care professionals providing care to children with health care needs: a pilot study. Health Information and Libraries Journal 24(2):95–102.
Kapiriri, L., & Bondy, S. J. (2006). Health practitioners and health planners information needs and seeking behavior for decision making in Uganda. International Journal of Medical Informatics 75(10-11), 714–721.
Martinez-Silveira, M. S., & Oddone, N. (2008). Information-seeking behaviour of medical residents in clinical practice in Bahia, Brazil. Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA), 96(4), 381-384.
Masters, K. (2008). For what purpose and reasons do doctors use the Internet: A systematic review. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 77(1), 4–16.
Norbert, G. L., & Lwoga, E. T. (2013). Information seeking behavior of physicians in Tanzania. Information Development, 29(2), 1-12.
Ocheibi, J. A., & Buba, A. (2003). Information needs and information gathering behaviour of medical doctors in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Journal of Education Media and Library Sciences, 40(4), 417-427.
Sahara Reporters (2020). Delta records third case Of COVID-19. Retrieved from http://saharareporters.com/2020/04/11/breaking-delta-records-third-case-covid-19
Salman, S. B. N., Ahmed, S., & Khan, A. (2013). Information seeking in primary care: a survey of doctors working in remote government health facilities in Pakistan. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 1009. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1009
Savolainen, R. (2007). Everyday life information seeking: Approaching information seeking in the context of ‘Way of Life’. Library and Information Science Research, 17(3), 259-294.
Tumwikirize, W. A., Ogwal-Okeng, J. W., Vernby, A., Anokbonggo, W. W., Gustafsson, L. L. & Lundborg, C. L. (2009). Access and use of medicines information sources by physicians in public hospitals in Uganda: A cross-sectional survey. African Health Sciences, 8(4), 220–226.
UNICEF (2020). Coronavirus (Covid-19): UNICEF urges public to seek information from trusted sources. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/press-releases/coronavirus-covid-19-unicef-urges-public-seek-information-trusted-sources
Wilson, T. D. (2000). Human information behaviour. Informing Science, 3(2), 49–56.
Wilson, T. D., & Walsh, C. (1996). Information behaviour, an interdisciplinary perspective. University of Sheffield, Department of Information Studies. Retrieved from http://informationr.net/tdw/publ/infbehav/ .
World Health Organization (WHO) (2020). World Health Organization. Infection prevention and control during health care when COVID-19 is suspected. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications-detail/infection-prevention-and-control-during-health-care-when-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-is-suspected-20200125
Younger, P. (2010). Internet based information seeking behaviour amongst doctors and nurses: A short review of the literature. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 27(1), 2-10.
Abstract
This study is focused on exploring COVID 19 information seeking behavior of Nigerian health practitioners using medical doctors in Delta state Nigeria as a case study. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Four objectives were laid down for the study and a structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. The findings revealed that the COVID 19 information needs of medical doctors in Delta state in the top rank are causes of COVID 19 virus, COVID 19 symptoms, COVID 19 test procedures, how COVID 19 spread/transmission levels, COVID 19 preventive measures, COVID 19 cures, age groups more vulnerable to COVID 19 attack, COVID 19 patients’ isolation/quarantine procedures among others. The study clearly indicates that the sources of COVID 19 information for the respondents are Internet, World Health Organization (WHO) website, Daily newspapers, Nigerian Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC) website, Network News and colleagues (medical doctors) from other states. The study revealed that the major use of COVID 19 information by respondents was to identify COVID 19 symptoms; know the isolation/quarantine procedure and practice for COVID 19 patients; know COVID 19 treatment procedure and to know the drug dosage for the treatment of COVID 19 patients among others. It is clear from the study that large amount of COVID 19 incredible information on the Internet; lack of access to library resources on COVID 19; poor power supply in Delta state and too many sources of COVID 19 information were the barriers to information COVID 19 information seeking and access among the medical doctors in Delta state. Recommendations were put forward to enhance access to COVID 19 information by medical doctors in Delta state so as to prepare adequately for the treatment of any patient should the case arise.