Debra Revere|Anne M. Turner|Ann Madhavan|Neil Rambo|Paul F. Bugni|AnnMarie Kimball|Sherrilynne S. Fuller
Understanding the information needs of public health practitioners: A literature review to inform design of an interactive digital knowledge management system
University of Washington|University of Washington|University of Washington|Public Health – Seattle & King County|University of Washington|University of Washington|University of Washington|University of Washington
need rapid access information support critical decisions public health cannot disputed however development systems requires understanding actual information needs public health professionals paper reports results literature review focused information needs public health professionals authors reviewed public health literature answer following questions 1 information needs public health professionals 2 ways needs met 3 barriers meeting needs 4 role internet meeting information needs review undertaken order develop system requirements inform design development interactive digital knowledge management system goal system support collection management retrieval public health documents data learning objects toolsthe search method extended beyond traditional information resources bibliographic databases tables contents toc bibliographies include information resources public health practitioners routinely use need usefor example grey literature government reports internetbased publications meeting abstractsalthough formal studies information needs informationseeking behaviors public health professionals reported literature consistently indicated critical need comprehensive coordinated accessible information meet needs public health workforce major barriers information access include time resource reliability trustworthinesscredibility information information overloadutilizing novel search method included diversity information resources public health practitioners use produced richer useful picture information needs public health workforce literature reviews critical need public health digital knowledge management systems designed reflect diversity public health activities enable human communications provide multiple access points critical information resources public health librarians information specialists serve significant role helping public health professionals meet information needs development evidencebased decision support systems humanmediated expert searching training use information retrieval systems