Abstract :
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects
work roles (patient management/service provider,
administrator/manager, researcher, educator, and student)
and their associated tasks have on the choice of
information sources used to meet private practice
dentists’ information needs. Additionally, the study
investigated how the Internet has affected the information
seeking of dentists. Using Leckie, Pettigrew, and
Sylvain’s (1996) model of the information seeking of professionals
as the conceptual framework, vignette-based,
in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 dentists in
the metropolitan areas of Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett,
Washington. Follow-up interviews were used to investigate
dentists’ use of the Internet. Findings revealed that
the type of work role-related task significantly shapes
dentists’ choices of information sources; the Internet
emerged as a significant information source because it
provides up-to-date information in a convenient and
timely manner; the Internet is a complement to traditional
information sources, not a replacement for them; and the
Leckie and associates (1996) general model of professional
information seeking is supported by this study.
