Abstract
BackgroundDigitalization and the increasing availability of online information have changed the way in which information is searched for and retrieved by the public and by health professionals. The technical developments in the last two decades have transformed the methods of information retrieval. Although systematic evidence exists on the general information needs of specialists, and in particular, family physicians (FPs), there have been no recent systematic reviews to specifically address the needs of FPs and any barriers that may exist to accessing online health information.ObjectiveThis review aims to provide an up-to-date perspective on the needs of FPs in searching, retrieving, and using online information.MethodsThis systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies searched a multitude of databases spanning the years 2000 to 2020 (search date January 2020). Studies that analyzed the online information needs of FPs, any barriers to the accessibility of information, and their information-seeking behaviors were included. Two researchers independently scrutinized titles and abstracts, analyzing full-text papers for their eligibility, the studies therein, and the data obtained from them.ResultsThe initial search yielded 4541 studies for initial title and abstract screening. Of the 144 studies that were found to be eligible for full-text screening, 41 were finally included. A total of 20 themes were developed and summarized into 5 main categories: individual needs of FPs before the search; access needs, including factors that would facilitate or hinder information retrieval; quality needs of the information to hand; utilization needs of the information available; and implication needs for everyday practice.ConclusionsThis review suggests that searching, accessing, and using online information, as well as any pre-existing needs, barriers, or demands, should not be perceived as separate entities but rather be regarded as a sequential process. Apart from accessing information and evaluating its quality, FPs expressed concerns regarding the applicability of this information to their everyday practice and its subsequent relevance to patient care. Future online information resources should cater to the needs of the primary care setting and seek to address the way in which such resources may be adapted to these specific requirements.
Highlights
BackgroundDigital transformation and the ubiquitous availability of online information resources have diversified the process of obtaining and evaluating information in general
The following questions should be raised: What reasons, facilitators, and barriers exist for doctors during online information searches? How are their information needs and information-seeking behaviors may be affected by digital transformation? Despite the body of available literature, we identified 3 gaps in the literature on the information needs among doctors, leading us to conduct this systematic review: 1. Not family physician (FP)–specific: Half of the systematic reviews examined were not specific to primary care or FP, but on the information needs of doctors in general [4,7,9,10,12], whereas reviews addressing the information needs and information-seeking behaviors of FPs are outdated [2,3,5,6,8]
This systematic review asks “What needs, demands, barriers and facilitators exist for FPs to search for online health information?” We intend to fill these gaps in the literature and aim to do the following: 1. Review studies that analyze the information needs and information-seeking behaviors of FPs in the primary care setting
Summary
BackgroundDigital transformation and the ubiquitous availability of online information resources have diversified the process of obtaining and evaluating information in general. Not family physician (FP)–specific: Half of the systematic reviews examined were not specific to primary care or FP, but on the information needs of doctors in general [4,7,9,10,12], whereas reviews addressing the information needs and information-seeking behaviors of FPs are outdated [2,3,5,6,8]. FPs are confronted with diverse clinical questions and may have differing information requirements than other specialist colleagues These requirements could be met with a multitude of available online tools and software systems developed within the recent decade. Systematic evidence exists on the general information needs of specialists, and in particular, family physicians (FPs), there have been no recent systematic reviews to address the needs of FPs and any barriers that may exist to accessing online health information
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