Linking physicians’ medical practice information needs, resources and barriers to job satisfaction

Abstract

Purpose Medical doctors seek information in order to satisfy their demanding everyday work practices and professional development endeavours. Information seeking is a continuous goal-related process that has impact on how they perceive and experience their job. The purpose of this paper is to explore the association of doctors’ awareness of medical practice information needs (MPIN), their frequency of using online information resources and the barriers they encountered during information seeking with their overall job satisfaction. More specifically, the research examined the mediating role of these information seeking related variables (information needs, online scholarly resources and information barriers) on doctors’ overall job satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach The study employed a questionnaire survey of 138 medical doctors working within the context of a University Hospital in Greece. The survey took place between February and March 2014. To test the hypotheses the authors conducted regression analysis, hierarchical moderated analysis and bootstrapping using SPSS macro developed by Preacher and colleagues. Findings The statistical analysis found that higher awareness of MPIN had an indirect effect on doctors’ overall job satisfaction when they used online information scholar resources. In addition, this indirect effect was contingent on information-related barriers. Originality/value This study provides evidence for supporting the pivotal role of doctors’ information seeking preferences in fostering job satisfaction. This is an understudied research area that deserves a unique focus particularly with the constantly expanding medical information space that has impact on doctors’ medical practices and professional activities.

Nurses’ ehealth literacy and associations with the nursing practice environment

“…In recent years, there is an ever‐growing percentage of the world population that uses Internet‐associated technologies to seek health‐relevant information and manage their health (Kim & Xie 2017, Kostagiolas et al, 2016, Garner et al 2021). Building on existing conceptualizations and various definitions of health literacy (Ayaz‐Alkaya et al 2020; Griebel et al 2018), we can describe as electronic health (ehealth) literacy, all essential skills needed to locate, understand, use, and evaluate electronic, web‐based and mobile resources to make informed choices regarding health promotion and disease prevention and management.…”

Personal, technical and organisational factors affect whether physicians seek answers to clinical questions during patient care: a literature review

“…Physicians can be useful in improving their clinical information‐seeking behaviour by learning information search skills and using the Internet. As shown in studies, weak search skills can become a barrier against answering clinical questions (Ajuwon, 2006; Bennett, Case beer, Kristofco, & Strasser, 2004; Ely et al, 2002; Green & Ruff, 2005; Kostagiolas et al, 2016).…”

“…The investigation results highlighted the impacts of barriers on information‐seeking behaviour and physician's information needs (Alghanim, 2011; Cook et al, 2013; Davies, 2011; Green & Ruff, 2005; Kostagiolas, Gorezis, Martzoukou, Deligeorgis, & Niakas, 2016; Naeem & Bhatti, 2016; Norbert & Lwoga, 2013; Norlin, Sharp, & Firth, 2007). Also, barriers have been addressed explicitly in some systematic reviews of the literature (Davies, 2007; Dawes & Sampson, 2003; Del Fiol et al, 2014).…”

The impact of health information needs' satisfaction of hypertensive patients on their clinical outcomes

“…The doctor remains a prominent information resource devoting time and effort in order to explain, discuss and validate AH patients' retrieved information. However, this can be intensive for the doctor and may place extra daily workplace demands (Kostagiolas et al , 2016). On the other hand, as AH patients become better informed, they can make better judgements concerning their condition and comply better with the doctor's recommendations.…”