The informationist: a prospective uncontrolled study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether doctors in an Australian tertiary hospital would use an informationist service, and to identify how the service would influence care.


METHODS
A prospective uncontrolled pilot study July 2002-January 2003.


METHODS
A teaching hospital in South Australia.


METHODS
Fourteen doctors working in the selected units.


METHODS
An informationist attended specified medical in-patient ward rounds and clinical meetings in the Respiratory Medicine, Sleep Disorders, and Rheumatology units. Main outcomes measures. Clinician self-assessed impact of information on a range of outcomes relating to clinical decision-making, clinician education, and avoidance of adverse events.


RESULTS
In 23 weeks, 52 questions were generated by nine of 14 eligible doctors. Forty-eight of 52 (92%) feedback forms were completed, indicating an average of 5.7 impacted outcomes per response. Twenty-five of 48 (52%) provided new information to doctors, and 24/48 (50%) provided at least some information that could be used immediately. Most common contributions of the service to patient care were revision of treatment plan (21/48, 44%) and confirmation of proposed therapy (18/48, 38%). Thirteen of 48 (27%) contributed to avoiding adverse events, and 10/48 (21%) contributed to avoiding additional tests and procedures. Eleven of 11 (100%) doctors who used the service assessed that it contributed or probably contributed to their professional development, with 8/10 (80%) indicating a similar impact on improving clinical outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Medical staff will use an informationist service, which contributes substantially to a multiplicity of outcomes relating to medical decision-making, clinician education, and clinical outcomes.
Sladek
Ruth M
RM
Medical Library, Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, South Australia. Ruth.Sladek@fmc.sa.gov.au
Pinnock
Carole
C
Phillips
Paddy A
PA
D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D016245:Librarians; D008490:Medical Informatics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013021:South Australia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome