Designing effective methods of retrieving evidence-based clinical information for healthcare professionals’ decision making have always been challenging tasks for researchers in this field. Relevant existing studies have indicated significant limitations of implementing context-sensitive information retrieval services in healthcare organizations, but attempts are yet at their emergent stage for designing research-based solutions. In this paper, we design a new information retrieval architecture as a solution artifact useful in healthcare organizations for improving their information retrieval practices. Under the design science research paradigm, we outline a combined methodology that comprises design science research, design thinking and systems thinking for operating an iterative guiding process for developing and evaluating the new information retrieval approach. A total of 13 requirements that are linked to user-oriented theory of information need and fitness-utility model are captured. The new architecture is evaluated for its usefulness and fitness-utility using multi-case in-depth interviews that satisfy formalizing prescriptive knowledge on information retrieval.

Background Practicing evidence-based health care is challenging because of overwhelming results presented to practitioners by Google-like Web-scale discovery (WSD) services that index millions of resources while retrieving information based on relevancy algorithms with limited consideration for user information need. Objective On the basis of the user-oriented theory of information need and following design science principles, this study aimed to develop and evaluate an innovative contextual model for information retrieval from WSD services to improve evidence-based practice (EBP) by health care practitioners. Methods We identified problems from literature to support real-world requirements for this study. We used design science research methodology to guide artefact design. We iteratively improved prototype of the context model using artificial formative evaluation. We performed naturalistic summative evaluation using convergent interviewing of health care practitioners and content analysis from a confirmatory focus group consisting of health researchers to evaluate the model’s validity and utility. Results The study iteratively designed and applied the context model to a WSD service to meet 5 identified requirements. All 5 health care practitioners interviewed found the artefact satisfied the 5 requirements to successfully evaluate the model as having validity and utility. Content analysis results from the confirmatory focus group mapped top 5 descriptors per requirement to support a true hypothesis that there is significant discussion among participants to justify concluding that the artefact had validity and utility. Conclusions The context model for WSD satisfied all requirements and was evaluated successfully for information retrieval to improve EBP. Outcomes from this study justify further research into the model.

BACKGROUND Practicing evidence-based health care is challenging because of overwhelming results presented to practitioners by Google-like Web-scale discovery (WSD) services that index millions of resources while retrieving information based on relevancy algorithms with limited consideration for user information need. OBJECTIVE On the basis of the user-oriented theory of information need and following design science principles, this study aimed to develop and evaluate an innovative contextual model for information retrieval from WSD services to improve evidence-based practice (EBP) by health care practitioners. METHODS We identified problems from literature to support real-world requirements for this study. We used design science research methodology to guide artefact design. We iteratively improved prototype of the context model using artificial formative evaluation. We performed naturalistic summative evaluation using convergent interviewing of health care practitioners and content analysis from a confirmatory focus group consisting of health researchers to evaluate the model’s validity and utility. RESULTS The study iteratively designed and applied the context model to a WSD service to meet 5 identified requirements. All 5 health care practitioners interviewed found the artefact satisfied the 5 requirements to successfully evaluate the model as having validity and utility. Content analysis results from the confirmatory focus group mapped top 5 descriptors per requirement to support a true hypothesis that there is significant discussion among participants to justify concluding that the artefact had validity and utility. CONCLUSIONS The context model for WSD satisfied all requirements and was evaluated successfully for information retrieval to improve EBP. Outcomes from this study justify further research into the model.

BACKGROUND Clinicians rely on their health organization’s knowledge services for clinical information retrieval however studies identified barriers or pain points that prevent them from accessing research from resource providers. OBJECTIVE Our study objective is to develop a feasible implementation design theory for health organizations to remove barriers to evidence-based clinical information retrieval, and improve Evidence-Based Practice, specifically the research evidence component. METHODS Literature from 2010 to 2020 was reviewed to define problems or pain points in evidence-based clinical information retrieval. Recommendations from literature are used to define purpose and scope. Design Science Research is used to complete three projects in a research stream, with the solutions evaluated iteratively and incrementally. Cloud services such as Web-Scale Discovery, Content Management System, Federated Access, Global Knowledgebase, and Document Delivery are unified as a holistic solution and evaluated using case studies by conducting in depth interviews with health sciences information managers. Frameworks and theories such as design thinking, systems thinking, and user-oriented theory of information need are adopted to construct a design theory. RESULTS Anatomy of a design theory is presented by developing its eight structural components to generalize results from the research stream as mature knowledge. The holistic solution’s implementation feasibility is evaluated as testable propositions to remove barriers to clinical information retrieval CONCLUSIONS Design theory provides practical knowledge for health sciences information managers to source existing components and integrate them as a holistic solution at their health organizations. Design theory also contributes to academic knowledge by addressing pain points and ‘call to action’ identified during literature review.