Identifying strategies to improve access to credible and relevant information for public health professionals: a qualitative study

Abstract

BackgroundMovement towards evidence-based practices in many fields suggests that public health (PH) challenges may be better addressed if credible information about health risks and effective PH practices is readily available. However, research has shown that many PH information needs are unmet. In addition to reviewing relevant literature, this study performed a comprehensive review of existing information resources and collected data from two representative PH groups, focusing on identifying current practices, expressed information needs, and ideal systems for information access.MethodsNineteen individual interviews were conducted among employees of two domains in a state health department – communicable disease control and community health promotion. Subsequent focus groups gathered additional data on preferences for methods of information access and delivery as well as information format and content. Qualitative methods were used to identify themes in the interview and focus group transcripts.ResultsInformants expressed similar needs for improved information access including single portal access with a good search engine; automatic notification regarding newly available information; access to best practice information in many areas of interest that extend beyond biomedical subject matter; improved access to grey literature as well as to more systematic reviews, summaries, and full-text articles; better methods for indexing, filtering, and searching for information; and effective ways to archive information accessed. Informants expressed a preference for improving systems with which they were already familiar such as PubMed and listservs rather than introducing new systems of information organization and delivery. A hypothetical ideal model for information organization and delivery was developed based on informants' stated information needs and preferred means of delivery. Features of the model were endorsed by the subjects who reviewed it.ConclusionMany critical information needs of PH practitioners are not being met efficiently or at all. We propose a dual strategy of: 1) promoting incremental improvements in existing information delivery systems based on the expressed preferences of the PH users of the systems and 2) the concurrent development and rigorous evaluation of new models of information organization and delivery that draw on successful resources already operating to deliver information to clinical medical practitioners.

Information transfer: what do decision makers want and need from researchers?

“…Similar findings have been reported among public health decision-makers in Canada and the US. These studies have reported that public health professionals at all decision-making levels want quick and easy access to synthesized, high-quality evidence that clearly articulates implications for policy and practice [5,27,40]. Given these findings it is likely that health care decision-makers engaged in the provision of health care services to individuals, families, groups, and populations in a variety of community-based settings, experience similar information needs and preferences to the ones reported in this paper.…”

Visualization and analytics tools for infectious disease epidemiology: A systematic review

“…While the public health workforce is extremely diverse [55-60] and public health information sources are often disparate and unstandardized [46, 55, 56, 60], several themes held constant. Public health professionals need timely access to current data from reliable, high quality sources [9, 55, 58, 59, 61, 62]. Furthermore, public health professionals need synthesized and collated data on relevant information such as best practices, effective prevention strategies or interventions, and evidence-based research, to name a few [9, 55, 59, 61, 63].…”

“…Public health professionals need timely access to current data from reliable, high quality sources [9, 55, 58, 59, 61, 62]. Furthermore, public health professionals need synthesized and collated data on relevant information such as best practices, effective prevention strategies or interventions, and evidence-based research, to name a few [9, 55, 59, 61, 63]. Public health professionals gather information from colleagues, literature and health departments [55, 57, 58, 62, 64].…”

Systematic reviews – do they ‘work’ in informing decision-making around health inequalities?

“…The epistemological/philosophical and methodological challenges in this field are considerable, and there is still some cynicism about the ability of systematic reviews to deliver meaningful messages (other than simply underlining the need for more research); but such reviews, performed thoughtfully, and with the input of users, help redress the undue emphasis still placed on single studies, and form a rational, and, to users, acceptable basis for evaluating complex social interventions, and for supporting public health decision making (LaPelle et al, 2006;Lavis et al, 2005, Dobbins et al, 2007.…”