title: Medical reference databases used by Army primary care physicians in field environments.
abstract: A cross-sectional survey of U.S. Army primary care physicians was done to answer two questions: (1) which medical reference materials are Army primary care physicians currently using when deployed to a field environment? and (2) what would they like to have for medical reference in a field environment? Of 740 surveys delivered to their intended recipients, 445 (60%) were returned. Currently, 96% of primary care physicians use books, 37% use journals, and 11% use computer software in their medical reference database. Of those now using books, 72% were satisfied with them, compared with 61% of those using journals and 45% of those using software. The most common book used was the Merck Manual. The most important characteristics desired in a field medical database were broad coverage, ease of use, and light weight. The majority of respondents believe that a good medial reference database is important but that current medical databases limit the quality of the medicine they practice in the field.
authors.affiliation: Schweinfurt Health Clinic, CMR.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Patience
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miser
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012013:Reference Books; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014857:Warfare