Information needs and information sources of individuals living with spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
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.


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.
Burkell
Jacquelyn A
JA
Faculty of Information and Media Studies, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. jburkell@uno.ca
Wolfe
Dalton L
DL
Potter
Patrick J
PJ
Jutai
Jeffrey W
JW
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods; D007255:Information Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires