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Information needs and information sources of individuals living with spinal cord injury
Author(s) -
Burkell Jacquelyn A.,
Wolfe Dalton L.,
Potter Patrick J.,
Jutai Jeffrey W.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
health information and libraries journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.779
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1471-1842
pISSN - 1471-1834
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-1842.2006.00686.x
Subject(s) - information needs , variety (cybernetics) , information quality , psychological intervention , medicine , spinal cord injury , group information management , the internet , quality (philosophy) , health information , information source (mathematics) , information system , information seeking , psychology , internet privacy , nursing , health care , personal information management , computer science , management information systems , world wide web , spinal cord , psychiatry , mathematics , artificial intelligence , philosophy , economic growth , engineering , epistemology , statistics , electrical engineering , economics , library science
Aims and objectives : Access to health information is important for the well‐being of people living in the community after spinal cord injury (SCI). In order to design appropriate information interventions, it is critical first to understand the information sources typically used. The goal of this study therefore is to identify the information‐seeking practices of this group. Sample and methods : A sample of 207 individuals living in the community following traumatic spinal cord injury were surveyed regarding their ongoing information needs and practices for seeking information. Results : The results reveal that respondents have unmet information needs, despite the fact that they typically access information through a variety of channels. SCI specialists are the most commonly used source, although they are viewed as relatively inaccessible. By contrast, the Internet (used by a relatively high proportion of respondents) is viewed as comparatively accessible, although there are some concerns about the quality of information found there. Conclusions : These survey results point to the need for an information source that is accessible and delivers high quality information. Although respondents use a variety of information sources, none meets this ideal profile. Information professionals should consider this gap in the design of information interventions.