Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
11-8-2023
Abstract
The study investigates the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of clinical health workers for the treatment of diabetic mellitus patients in the rural areas in Benue state Nigeria. Two research questions guided the study. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A total of four hundred and twenty-two (422) health workers with a sample of two hundred and six (206) clinical health workers from general hospitals in 23 Local Governments Areas in Benue state was used for the study. The questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation. A mean score cut-off point of 2.50 was used to determine a positive response. The findings of the study revealed that Information on the care of patients with diabetics, information on improvement of knowledge in clinical areas on diabetics, information on how to support lifelong learning, and information on occupational hazards, among others are the type of information needs of health workers for the treatment of diabetic mellitus patients in rural areas in Benue State. Often use of the Internet, medical journals, nursing colleagues, consulting of doctors’ colleagues, always use of medical libraries, and electronic databases like Cenahlete, amongst others are the channels of information provision for health workers for the treatment of diabetic mellitus patients in rural areas in Benue State. Lack of internet access, inadequate training of medical practitioners in the use of information, lack of current resources in the medical libraries, inadequate research on user study to identify information needs of health practitioners, and inadequate training of library and information professionals, are the constraints affecting information needs and seeking behaviour of health workers for treatment of diabetic mellitus patients in rural areas in Benue state. The study recommended that the Information needs of health workers should be addressed to enable them to have access to information that will aid them in the treatment of diabetic mellitus patients Channels of meeting information needs of health workers for the treatment of diabetic mellitus disease should be made available by government, health care centres, privates and well meaning individuals as well as adequately equip with information resources to increase health workers access to information for treatment of diabetic mellitus patients in rural areas. The government through the Ministry of Health, health care centers, and other relevant stakeholders should address the various constraints affecting information needs of health workers for the treatment of diabetic mellitus patients in rural areas in Benue state.