Information needs and sources of physicians for improved clinical care in university teaching hospitals in North Central, Nigeria

The study investigated information needs and sources of physicians for improved clinical care in university teaching hospitals in North Central Nigeria. The study set to find out: the information needs of physicians; information sources of physicians; identify the challenges associated with the information-seeking behaviour of physicians; and determine the strategies for enhancing the challenges associated with the information-seeking of physicians. Quantitative research methodology was used for the research. The population of the study consisted of eight hundred and fifty (850) physicians who work in the teaching hospitals in north central Nigeria. Census sampling technique was employed for sample selection. Data were collected through electronic questionnaire which was face validated by two experts in the Department of Library and Information Science and one from test and measurement unit of Science Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The data collected was analysed using percentages, mean scores, and standard deviation. The findings of the study revealed that physicians’ major information needs are: information on new drugs, treatment, epidemiology, up-to-date information on health care, and prescription. Also, the study found that physicians majorly consulted professional bodies, drug compendium, medical databases, colleagues, and internet. Some of the challenges encountered by physicians in gathering information are lack of time at work, lack of Internet connectivity and lack of easy access to information study. Thus, the study recommended among others that library management should ensure that Internet is restored; information made available round the clock; and professional librarians employed to encourage information-seeking in teaching hospitals.