Author/Authors :
Sarbaz, Masoumeh Department of Medical Informatics - School of Medicine - Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad , Naderi, Hamid Reza Department of Infectious Diseases - School of Medicine - Imam Reza Hospital - Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad , Aelami, Mohammad Hassan Department of Pediatrics - School of Medicine - Imam Reza Hospital - Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad , Eslami, Saeid Department of Medical Informatics - School of Medicine - Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad
Abstract :
Background: Physicians continually need to update their knowledge to ensure appropriate decision making about patient care.
Objectives: We aimed to identify and compare information sources used by specialists and residents, their reasons for choosing
these sources, and the level of their confidence in these sources.
Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among specialists and residents using a validated questionnaire in
the five academic hospitals affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (in northeast Iran). We compared the specialists
with residents in term of gender, age, years since graduation, use of information sources, confidence in use of information sources,
and reasons for selecting the information sources. Within each group, we also investigated the effect of work experience and gender
on frequently used information sources and users’ confidence in them.
Results: The questionnairewassent to 315 physicians, including 155 specialistsand160 residents. Onehundredtwenty-six specialists
(response rate: 81 %) and 126 residents (response rate: 79%) completed it. The most frequently mentioned sources by all specialists
included “English textbooks” (84.9%), “web/internet” (74.6%), “English medical journals” (62.3 %), and “discussions with colleagues”
(57%). Among residents, “web/internet” (65.9%), “discussion with colleagues” (61.3%), and “Persian textbooks” (50.4%) were the most
frequently used sources of information. In both groups, high confidencewasdemonstrated in “English textbooks,” “English medical
journals,” and “international instructions/guidelines.” Both groups counted reliability, easy accessibility, and being up to date as
their primary reasons for the selection of their information sources. There was also a significantly negative correlation between
using the internet as an information source and age in specialists (Spearman’s rho=- 0.238, p=0.01), but not in residents.
Conclusions: Reliability, easy accessibility, and beingupto date should be considered in establishing information sources for physicians.
