Value Of Information Sources Research Articles

Assessing the role and impact of research in clinical practice among acupuncturists in western countries: a multinational cross-sectional survey.

Evidence-informed practice is crucial to perform safe and efficient health interventions. In recent years, the evidence base of acupuncture continuously increased leading to the integration of acupuncture into clinical guidelines by various leading medical associations worldwide. At the same time, recent studies showed that licensed acupuncturists are rarely utilizing scientific research to inform their practice. This descriptive study using an online survey assessed the role of evidence-informed practice of acupuncturists in Austria, Germany, the United States of America, Australia, and New Zealand and aimed to determine critical factors relevant for promoting research literacy including demographical data, data about the clinical practice patterns, and the role and value of different information sources of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) practitioners. In total, 404 acupuncturists completed the online survey that included questions about demographic characteristics, the role and value of research in clinical practice, and details about the amount and type of continuing professional education. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to determine significant predictors of the outcome variable "importance of research in clinical practice" (numerical rating scale, 0 to 100). The results showed that the majority of acupuncturists use certified courses as primary source of continuing professional education and value experts' opinions as the most reliable source of information. Multivariate analysis showed that the importance of research is dependent on the interest in research, an interdisciplinary learning environment, and positive experiences with research including if an acupuncture study ever changed the clinical practice of practitioners. Future educational programs should therefore focus on an interactive format aiming to promote skills to critically assess the value and practical use of research studies to improve the general practice of acupuncture.

Grower assessment of profitability impact from Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), the value of management information sources, and use of potential management practices

AbstractAn online survey was conducted from June 2018 to March 2021 to elicit information from commercial farmers and growers on the economic impact of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) (Halyomorpha halys (Stål)) on agriculture and their attitudes towards adopting various alternative management practices, including use of Trissolcus japonicus as a biocontrol agent. Most respondents reported that BMSB reduced the profitability of their operation, with the largest impacts coming from reduced quality and increased spray cost. Improved monitoring techniques and natural enemies have the greatest probability to be used to manage BMSB, while tactics like attract and kill, border sprays, repellents, trap crops and netting were less likely to be adopted. Further analysis using ordered logistic and tobit regression models shows that the factors that influence potential adoption vary significantly for each management practice. This suggests that adoption efforts for alternate management practices should focus on the attributes of specific commodity groups and targeted educational programmes may be required to overcome the resistance of growers using conventional growing practices. Several variables have a consistent impact on the respondent's willingness to pay for a T. japonicus‐based biocontrol including being a commercial producer (positive impact), use of conventional growing practices (negative) and increased concern about the impact of BMSB (positive).

COVID-19 and British Columbia's volunteer search and rescue workers: risk recognition and risk mitigation.

Early during COVID-19, British Columbia coordinated collaboration between academic researchers, public healthcare systems, and private sector partners to focus research resources on knowledge gaps in a timely manner, avoid duplication, and identify overlooked aspects. At a collaboration symposium, it became evident that BC's volunteer search & rescue (SAR) cadre was overlooked. Our exploratory project studied volunteer SAR's operational readiness; use and perceived value of information sources; consistency in infection prevention measures among volunteer stations, and with their professional counterparts for comparable first aid medical interventions throughout the pandemic. We partnered with the 2 organizations that govern BC's volunteer SAR stations. Local station leaders completed a short confidential survey. Guidance documents issued by associations governing voluntary and professional first responders were compared. Survey responses were received from 33 of 109 local stations, spanning all regions of BC. Most remained operationally ready throughout the entire pandemic (12.1% had to stand down at times). Except for 21% lacking eye protection, all had personal protective equipment commensurate with that of healthcare professionals; however, few used this PPE in a manner consistent with professional counterparts. Usage and perceived usefulness of various information sources differed. There was no communication link between the province's infection control experts and 2 volunteer SAR organizations. Search & rescue capability was maintained despite pandemic impacts. Results reveal strengths and opportunities for improvement in the ways volunteers are informed and protected. Infection control experts providing advice for emergency health services professional responders should remember to include their volunteer counterparts.

Does Social Influence Change with Other Information Sources? A Large-Scale Randomized Experiment in Medical Crowdfunding

We examine how social influence interacts with other information sources to affect user behaviors in the context of medical crowdfunding. We conduct a large-scale randomized field experiment on a leading medical crowdfunding platform, showing friends’ donation information to donors in the treatment group and not showing such information in the control group, and examine how the likelihood to donate differs. In addition, we conduct a survey on Amazon Mechanical Turk to evaluate the informational value of different case attributes in conveying the patients’ need for help to donors. We find that for cases containing attributes with high informational value (e.g., minor patient, severe conditions), social influence is insignificant. In contrast, for cases lacking attributes with high informational value, social influence significantly increases donors’ likelihood to donate. Overall, our results show that the impact of social influence depends on the informational value of other information sources, suggesting that the social influence in our context is primarily informational. Our findings indicate that rather than generating an entrenchment effect, where cases with attributes of high informational value attract disproportionate benefits, social influence can increase donation likelihood to cases that lack such attributes, promoting more equal access to resources overall. History: Olivia Liu Sheng, Senior Editor; Yuliang (Oliver) Yao, Associate Editor. Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2022.1189 .

Strength of Belief Guides Information Foraging

Theories of how people value and search for information share the assumption that beliefs give rise to the perceived value of information. However, few studies have directly addressed the pre-search processes that influence information-foraging behavior. This experiment examined the influence of pre-search belief updating on the perceived value of information sources. A sample of college students completed a hypothesis-testing, medical-diagnosis task. The experiment used medical tests with equal objective informative value before unveiling a presenting symptom intended to alter the strength of belief in different disease hypotheses. The observed patterns of test selection suggest that changes in beliefs about disease hypotheses result in systematic and predictable changes in test preference—a notion we refer to as the principle of hypothesis-guided search. We also present a simulation of how pre-search processes (e.g., hypothesis generation and working memory capacity) and task variables (e.g., time pressure) influence subsequent information search.

COVID-19 vaccine information sources utilized by female healthcare workers

Clinical trials of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines excluded individuals trying to conceive, currently pregnant, or breastfeeding. Healthcare workers were among the first to receive the vaccine and professional and government organizations encouraged shared decision-making and access to vaccination among those who were pregnant or lactating. We characterized the use and perceived value of different information sources among pregnancy-capable healthcare workers when deciding whether to receive the vaccine.

Exploring oil and gas industry workers’ knowledge and information needs

Many incident reports and much research literature have concluded that incident rates in high-hazard industries can be reduced by enhancing the knowledge and information sources available to workers. However, a sparsity of published research reporting workers' perspectives on the value of information and knowledge sources in different operational situations potentially limits the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving human responses to process safety performance. In response, this work seeks to understand how frontline oil and gas industry workers, responsible for managing process safety and other risks in their hazardous workplaces, rely on their own knowledge, the knowledge of others and information provided to manage different operating scenarios. A set of open and closed-ended survey questions were distributed to workers at several upstream and downstream oil and gas companies. Statistical analysis of 133 responses revealed interesting insights relating to participants’ experience levels, decision making practices and perceptions on the importance of various information and knowledge sources in different operating circumstances. The data revealed differences in the sources of knowledge relied upon by experienced and less experienced workers. Experienced workers rely on their own knowledge in both routine and potentially high-impact scenarios. Less experienced workers also rely on their own knowledge for routine decisions however they reported seeking out external knowledge and information in potentially high-impact scenarios. The data suggests that interventions to improve safety by enhancing the availability of knowledge and information sources are less likely to affect experienced workers and alternate strategies might be needed. However, such interventions might be effective if they are focused on supporting newer workers.

Use of information sources regarding medicine side effects among the general population: a cross-sectional survey.

To determine the use and perceived value of different information sources that patients may use to support identification of medicine side effects; to explore associations between coping styles and use of information sources. Side effects from medicines can have considerable negative impact on peoples' daily lives. As a result of an ageing UK population and attendant multi-morbidity, an increasing number of medicines are being prescribed for patients, leading to increased risk of unintended side effects. A cross-sectional survey of patients who use medicine, recruited from community pharmacies. The survey sought views on attributes of various information sources, their predicted and actual use, incorporating a shortened Side Effects Coping Questionnaire (SECope) scale and the abbreviated Miller Behavioural Style Scale (MBSS). Of 935 questionnaires distributed, 230 (25.0%) were returned, 61.3% from females; 44.7% were retired and 84.6% used at least one medicine regularly. 69.6% had experienced a side effect, resulting in 57.5% of these stopping the medicine. Patient information leaflets (PILs) and GPs were both predicted and actually most widely used sources, despite GPs being judged as relatively less accessible and PILs less trustworthy, particularly by regular medicine users. Pharmacists, considered both easy to access and trustworthy, were used by few in practice, while the internet was considered easy to access, but less trustworthy and was also little used. SECope sub-scales for non-adherence and information seeking showed positive associations with stopping a medicine and seeking information from a health professional. More high monitors than low monitors stopped a medicine themselves, but there were no differences in use of information sources. Information seeking following a side effect is a common strategy, potentially predicted by the SECope, but not the MBSS. Limited GP accessibility could contribute to high internet use. Further research could determine how the trustworthiness of PILs can be improved.

Receipt and use of spoken and written over-the-counter medicine information: insights into Australian and UK consumers' experiences.

To explore Australian and UK consumers' receipt and use of spoken and written medicine information and examine the role of leaflets for consumers of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 37 Australian and 39 UK consumers to explore information received with their most recent OTC medicine purchase, and how information was used at different times post-purchase. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Similarities were evident between the key themes identified from Australian and UK consumers' experiences. Consumers infrequently sought spoken information and reported that pharmacy staff provided minimal spoken information for OTC medicines. Leaflets were not always received or wanted and had a less salient role as an information source for repeat OTC purchases. Consumers tended not to read OTC labels or leaflets. Product familiarity led to consumers tending not to seek information on labels or leaflets. When labels were consulted, directions for use were commonly read. However, OTC medicine information in general was infrequently revisited. As familiarity is not an infallible proxy for safe and effective medication use, strategies to promote the value and use of these OTC medicine information sources are important and needed. Minimal spoken information provision coupled with limited written information use may adversely impact medication safety in self-management.

Identifying Critical Factors Contributing to Successful Innovations: A Pilot Study from Service Sector of Pakistan

The study is a pilot investigation of the critical factors that are contributing to successful innovations in the service sector in Pakistan. The study dependent variable is innovation performance which has been divided into four main dimensions that are service innovations, process innovations, organization innovations, and marketing innovations while the independent variables are human capital, acquisition of knowledge, information sources for innovations and cooperation for innovation, and the moderating variables are size of firm in term of number of employees and budget for innovation. The data was collected using the modified CIS (community innovation survey) questionnaire which is mostly used by most European countries to access the innovation performance of firm. A sample of 127 firms was taken from different service firms from banking, software development, health, telecommunication firms. The study has firstly used descriptive analysis to explain the characteristics of sample then different inferential statistics are used to check the hypothesis developed for the study. The reliability, validity, internal consistency and internal correlation of items in the CIS was checked by using values of Cronbch’s Alpha values and KMO values for factor analysis. The study has used the Tobit regression model and the results have shown the P value of human capital and information sources are significant for service innovations and the value for cooperation for innovation is significant for process innovations while human capital and cooperation for innovation had significant p values at 5 percent significance level for organizational innovations and acquisition of knowledge and information sources have significant p value for marketing innovations. And the value for budget for innovation is significant for firm’s organizational innovations.

Separating 'emotion' from 'the science': Exploring the perceived value of information for parents and families of children with autistic spectrum disorder.

Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a life-long condition. In recent years, there has been a rise in the number of children diagnosed with ASD and a greater recognition that parents need clear, accessible information communicated through different modalities. The objective of this research was to explore the views of stakeholders regarding their information needs, current information modalities and the perceived barriers and complexities of information. Three focus groups with the same stakeholders were conducted with a range of individuals from a variety of backgrounds, all of whom had a personal and/or professional interest in ASD. The same stakeholders were included in all three groups to promote depth of analysis and to facilitate rapport. All focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Three main issues were identified, including (1) the value of particular information sources; (2) the vulnerability of families and (3) the need for validated evidence. It was concluded, therefore, that information should be available through a multitude of modalities, accounting for the educational ability and economic status of families. The information should also be communicated in an accessible style, should be presented as trustworthy and clinical professionals may play a key role in translating information. Such information also needs to account for practical problems inherent to having a child with ASD, including time constraints and fatigue.

Value of databases other than medline for rapid health technology assessments.

The objective of this study was to explore the degree to which databases other than MEDLINE contribute studies relevant for inclusion in rapid health technology assessments (HTA). We determined the extent to which the clinical, economic, and social studies included in twenty-one full and four rapid HTAs published by three Canadian HTA agencies from 2007 to 2012 were indexed in MEDLINE. Other electronic databases, including EMBASE, were then searched, in sequence, to assess whether or not they indexed studies not found in MEDLINE. Assessment topics ranged from purely clinical (e.g., drug-eluting stents) to those with broader social implications (e.g., spousal violence). MEDLINE contributed the majority of studies in all but two HTA reports, indexing a mean of 89.6 percent of clinical studies across all HTAs, and 88.3 percent of all clinical, economic, and social studies in twenty-four of twenty-five HTAs. While EMBASE contributed unique studies to twenty-two of twenty-five HTAs, three rapid HTAs did not include any EMBASE studies. In some instances, PsycINFO and CINAHL contributed as many, if not more, non-MEDLINE studies than EMBASE. Our findings highlight the importance of assessing the topic-specific relative value of including EMBASE, or more specialized databases, in HTA search protocols. Although MEDLINE continues to be a key resource for HTAs, the time and resource limitations inherent in the production of rapid HTAs require that researchers carefully consider the value and limitations of other information sources to identify relevant studies.

Information Value Distance and Crisis Management Planning

Organizational learning during and post-crisis is well established in the management literature but consideration of learning for crisis and the sources of information perceived to be useful for crisis management planning have not previously been examined. This study evaluates data from 215 U.K.-based small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) about the perceived value of 11 sources of information between planning (i.e., firms with a crisis management plan) and non-planning respondents. For planning firms, the information sources considered to be useful are exclusively experience-based, and when information sources become less idiosyncratic and episodic, planning firms’ evaluations of their value begin to approximate the ratings given by non-planning firms. Furthermore, the concepts of relative value distance and value distance from threshold are original features of this study and offer new ways to evaluate the value of information sources for organizations wishing to provide information and support to improve business resilience and business continuity.

A Bayesian multivariate probit for ordinal data with semiparametric random-effects

A heterogeneous thresholds probit for ordered ratings is developed to remove conditional independence among responses and incorporate respondent traits. We propose a semiparametric approach to relaxing normality of random-effects in the probit model that account for differences in response style. Simulation studies provide evidence of the ability for the proposed semiparametric model to better recover an underlying distribution of respondent effects than the parametric one with a normal hierarchical prior. The application to ratings on the value of information sources for automobiles demonstrates significant correlations among responses and irregularity in the shape of unobserved heterogeneity.

Effects of perceptual and movement ranges on joint predator–prey distributions

We developed a spatially‐explicit individual‐based model to study how limited perceptual and movement ranges affect spatial predator–prey interactions. Earlier models of ‘predator–prey space games’ were often developed by modifying ideal free distribution models, which are spatially‐implicit and also assume that individuals are omniscient, although some more recent models have relaxed these assumptions. We found that under some conditions, the spatially‐explicit model generated similar predictions to previous models. However, the model showed that limited range in a spatially‐explicit context generated different predictions when 1) predator density and range are both small, and 2) when the predator movement range varied while the prey range was small. The model suggests that the differences were the result of 1) movement range changing the value of information sources and thus changing the behavior of individual predators and prey and 2) movement range limiting the ability of individuals to exploit the environment.

Use and value of information sources by parents of child psychiatric patients

With Web 2.0, the variety of information sources for parents of paediatric psychiatric patients has increased dramatically. Information use theory suggests newer sources supplement rather than supplant traditional sources of health information. This study sought to determine the use and value of traditional and emerging sources of information and whether the subjects had access to highly valued sources of information. One hundred parents indicated the use and value of six sources of information on the child's symptoms, diagnoses and treatment. The data were analyzed to determine if significant relationships existed between type of source and the use and value of the information sources. Ninety-four percent of the subjects had access to the Internet and almost half of those reported using the Social Web. Eighty-five percent had at least one high-value information source. The psychiatrist in the clinic, the Internet and the primary care physician were the most highly used and valued sources. Use of digital information sources was greater than found in other studies of similar populations. This use appears to complement rather than supplant more traditional sources. Further studies are needed to see if the negative impact of lack of Internet access is replicated.

The application and value of information sources in clinical practice: an examination of the perspective of naturopaths

The approach of evidence-based medicine (EBM), providing a paradigm to validate information sources and a process for critiquing their value, is an important platform for guiding practice. Researchers have explored the application and value of information sources in clinical practice with regard to a range of health professions; however, naturopathic practice has been overlooked. An exploratory study of naturopaths' perspectives of the application and value of information sources has been undertaken. Semi-structured interviews with 12 naturopaths in current clinical practice, concerning the information sources used in clinical practice and their perceptions of these sources. Thematic analysis identified differences in the application of the variety of information sources used, depending upon the perceived validity. Internet databases were viewed as highly valid. Textbooks, formal education and interpersonal interactions were judged based upon a variety of factors, whilst validation of general internet sites and manufacturers information was required prior to use. The findings of this study will provide preliminary aid to those responsible for supporting naturopaths' information use and access. In particular, it may assist publishers, medical librarians and professional associations in developing strategies to expand the clinically useful information sources available to naturopaths.

Health Journalists and Three Levels of Public Information: Issue and Agenda Disparities?

This is a 2-phase study of the sources of information health journalists use and rely upon for writing health news stories. The 1st phase of the study includes both depth interviews and an online survey with 188 health journalists. Phase 2 of the study extends the findings from Phase 1, with particular attention paid to the roles of public health information officers at 3 government levels: local, state, and federal. Results from this study suggest that a monolithic, “1-size-fits-all” media relations model for public information officers is not adequate in the current health news environment. Findings explore differences in perceptions of the value of public information sources at 3 levels and suggest that some bureaucratic inefficiencies may interfere with more effective source/subsidy–provider relationships.

INFORMATION SEARCH BEHAVIORS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS FOR SPRING BREAK TRIP IN THE USA: AN APPLICATION OF SPECIALIZATION CONCEPT

The purpose of this study was to identify information search behaviors of college student travelers by applying the concept of specialization. Dividing the college travelers into groups of high‐, medium‐, and low‐leveled specialization, the research investigated the perceived value of information content and information sources, and identified the main information sources used to obtain information for their recent spring break trips. It was observed that the different specialization groups assigned different values to information content and sources. The differences in the choice of information channel also appear to be substantial. As a result, the findings of this study supported the idea that the specialization concept can be used as an alternative approach to segment travelers in a more comprehensive way, which combines past experience, prior knowledge, and involvement that are important to classify travelers.

A study of the information literacy capabilities of the Kuwaiti police officers

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the information literacy capabilities of Kuwaiti police officers by focusing on computing and information skills and perceived value of information sources. The study is designed to test the hypothesis that there existed significant differences in information literacy capabilities based on three personal characteristics.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire‐based survey was conducted of 211 police officers enrolled in a training program; 60 percent responses were received and analyzed using SPSS package.FindingsIt was found that generally the Kuwaiti police officers had weak computing and information capabilities. They were generally poor in searching skills. It was further found that departmental affiliation exhibited significant differences for computing and information skills.Originality/valueThe study is the first of its type in this region and has significant value in making it clear that appropriate programs of training are needed for the development of information and computing skills among Kuwaiti police officers.