Physicians’ pharmacogenomics information needs and seeking behavior: a study with case vignettes
Abstract Background Genetic testing, especially in pharmacogenomics, can have a major impact on patient care. However, most physicians do not feel that they have sufficient knowledge to apply pharmacogenomics to patient care. Online information resources can help address this gap. We investigated ph...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2017-08-01
|
| Series: | BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12911-017-0510-9 |
| _version_ | 1818538539720114176 |
|---|---|
| author | Bret S. E. Heale Aly Khalifa Bryan L. Stone Scott Nelson Guilherme Del Fiol |
| author_facet | Bret S. E. Heale Aly Khalifa Bryan L. Stone Scott Nelson Guilherme Del Fiol |
| author_sort | Bret S. E. Heale |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Genetic testing, especially in pharmacogenomics, can have a major impact on patient care. However, most physicians do not feel that they have sufficient knowledge to apply pharmacogenomics to patient care. Online information resources can help address this gap. We investigated physicians’ pharmacogenomics information needs and information-seeking behavior, in order to guide the design of pharmacogenomics information resources that effectively meet clinical information needs. Methods We performed a formative, mixed-method assessment of physicians’ information-seeking process in three pharmacogenomics case vignettes. Interactions of 6 physicians’ with online pharmacogenomics resources were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for prominent themes. Quantitative data included information-seeking duration, page navigations, and number of searches entered. Results We found that participants searched an average of 8 min per case vignette, spent less than 30 s reviewing specific content, and rarely refined search terms. Participants’ information needs included a need for clinically meaningful descriptions of test interpretations, a molecular basis for the clinical effect of drug variation, information on the logistics of carrying out a genetic test (including questions related to cost, availability, test turn-around time, insurance coverage, and accessibility of expert support).Also, participants sought alternative therapies that would not require genetic testing. Conclusion This study of pharmacogenomics information-seeking behavior indicates that content to support their information needs is dispersed and hard to find. Our results reveal a set of themes that information resources can use to help physicians find and apply pharmacogenomics information to the care of their patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T21:30:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-481d3ea690814c0aa72fd3d98690fe6f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6947 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T21:30:16Z |
| publishDate | 2017-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making |
| spelling | doaj.art-481d3ea690814c0aa72fd3d98690fe6f2022-12-22T00:50:11ZengBMCBMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making1472-69472017-08-0117111010.1186/s12911-017-0510-9Physicians’ pharmacogenomics information needs and seeking behavior: a study with case vignettesBret S. E. Heale0Aly Khalifa1Bryan L. Stone2Scott Nelson3Guilherme Del Fiol4Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of UtahDepartment of Biomedical Informatics, University of UtahDepartment of Pediatrics, University of UtahVanderbilt University Medical CenterDepartment of Biomedical Informatics, University of UtahAbstract Background Genetic testing, especially in pharmacogenomics, can have a major impact on patient care. However, most physicians do not feel that they have sufficient knowledge to apply pharmacogenomics to patient care. Online information resources can help address this gap. We investigated physicians’ pharmacogenomics information needs and information-seeking behavior, in order to guide the design of pharmacogenomics information resources that effectively meet clinical information needs. Methods We performed a formative, mixed-method assessment of physicians’ information-seeking process in three pharmacogenomics case vignettes. Interactions of 6 physicians’ with online pharmacogenomics resources were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for prominent themes. Quantitative data included information-seeking duration, page navigations, and number of searches entered. Results We found that participants searched an average of 8 min per case vignette, spent less than 30 s reviewing specific content, and rarely refined search terms. Participants’ information needs included a need for clinically meaningful descriptions of test interpretations, a molecular basis for the clinical effect of drug variation, information on the logistics of carrying out a genetic test (including questions related to cost, availability, test turn-around time, insurance coverage, and accessibility of expert support).Also, participants sought alternative therapies that would not require genetic testing. Conclusion This study of pharmacogenomics information-seeking behavior indicates that content to support their information needs is dispersed and hard to find. Our results reveal a set of themes that information resources can use to help physicians find and apply pharmacogenomics information to the care of their patients.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12911-017-0510-9Physician information needs assessmentPharmacogenomicsInformation seeking behaviorAccess to information |
| spellingShingle | Bret S. E. Heale Aly Khalifa Bryan L. Stone Scott Nelson Guilherme Del Fiol Physicians’ pharmacogenomics information needs and seeking behavior: a study with case vignettes BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making Physician information needs assessment Pharmacogenomics Information seeking behavior Access to information |
| title | Physicians’ pharmacogenomics information needs and seeking behavior: a study with case vignettes |
| title_full | Physicians’ pharmacogenomics information needs and seeking behavior: a study with case vignettes |
| title_fullStr | Physicians’ pharmacogenomics information needs and seeking behavior: a study with case vignettes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physicians’ pharmacogenomics information needs and seeking behavior: a study with case vignettes |
| title_short | Physicians’ pharmacogenomics information needs and seeking behavior: a study with case vignettes |
| title_sort | physicians pharmacogenomics information needs and seeking behavior a study with case vignettes |
| topic | Physician information needs assessment Pharmacogenomics Information seeking behavior Access to information |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12911-017-0510-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bretseheale physicianspharmacogenomicsinformationneedsandseekingbehaviorastudywithcasevignettes AT alykhalifa physicianspharmacogenomicsinformationneedsandseekingbehaviorastudywithcasevignettes AT bryanlstone physicianspharmacogenomicsinformationneedsandseekingbehaviorastudywithcasevignettes AT scottnelson physicianspharmacogenomicsinformationneedsandseekingbehaviorastudywithcasevignettes AT guilhermedelfiol physicianspharmacogenomicsinformationneedsandseekingbehaviorastudywithcasevignettes |