title: The persistence of clinical questions across shifts on an intensive care unit: an observational pilot study.
abstract: How do clinical questions emerge and move toward resolution in the intensive care setting over the course of 24 hours? In a 20-bed surgical intensive care unit in a large, tertiary-care teaching hospital, informationists shadowed clinicians for 2 48-hour periods to record questions, noting when they were asked and whether they were answered. Thirty-eight percent of 112 recorded questions remained unanswered. Some unanswered questions persisted across shifts, and clinicians' information-seeking behaviors changed over time. Clinical information services can be improved and integrated more fully into clinical workflows based on a fuller understanding of the life cycle of clinical inquiry.
authors.affiliation: banton2@jhmi.edu , Associate Director, Clinical Informationist Services, Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University, 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 1-212, Baltimore, MD 21287; woodson@jhmi.edu , Associate Director for Digital Collections, Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University, 5801 Smith Avenue, Suite 305, Baltimore, MD 21209; ctwose1@jhmi.edu , Associate Director, Public Health and Basic Sciences Informationist Services, Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University, 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 1-213, Baltimore, MD 21287; nroderer@jhmi.edu , Professor Emerita, Division of Health Sciences Informatics, Johns Hopkins University, 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 1-200, Baltimore, MD 21287.
authors.forename: Blair
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Anton
authors.affiliation: banton2@jhmi.edu , Associate Director, Clinical Informationist Services, Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University, 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 1-212, Baltimore, MD 21287; woodson@jhmi.edu , Associate Director for Digital Collections, Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University, 5801 Smith Avenue, Suite 305, Baltimore, MD 21209; ctwose1@jhmi.edu , Associate Director, Public Health and Basic Sciences Informationist Services, Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University, 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 1-213, Baltimore, MD 21287; nroderer@jhmi.edu , Professor Emerita, Division of Health Sciences Informatics, Johns Hopkins University, 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 1-200, Baltimore, MD 21287.
authors.forename: Sue M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Woodson
authors.affiliation: banton2@jhmi.edu , Associate Director, Clinical Informationist Services, Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University, 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 1-212, Baltimore, MD 21287; woodson@jhmi.edu , Associate Director for Digital Collections, Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University, 5801 Smith Avenue, Suite 305, Baltimore, MD 21209; ctwose1@jhmi.edu , Associate Director, Public Health and Basic Sciences Informationist Services, Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University, 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 1-213, Baltimore, MD 21287; nroderer@jhmi.edu , Professor Emerita, Division of Health Sciences Informatics, Johns Hopkins University, 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 1-200, Baltimore, MD 21287.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Twose
authors.affiliation: banton2@jhmi.edu , Associate Director, Clinical Informationist Services, Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University, 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 1-212, Baltimore, MD 21287; woodson@jhmi.edu , Associate Director for Digital Collections, Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University, 5801 Smith Avenue, Suite 305, Baltimore, MD 21209; ctwose1@jhmi.edu , Associate Director, Public Health and Basic Sciences Informationist Services, Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University, 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 1-213, Baltimore, MD 21287; nroderer@jhmi.edu , Professor Emerita, Division of Health Sciences Informatics, Johns Hopkins University, 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 1-200, Baltimore, MD 21287.
authors.forename: Nancy K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Roderer
mesh_terms: D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects