In line with a generic theoretical model of information sciences, health professionals may receive or retrieve information (acquisition), integrate it (cognition), and use it (application). We operationalize this model as follows. An information item is defined as a passage of text in digital form with a unique identifier (e.g., a web page containing an abstract or a synopsis of a single study or a literature review with web-link to the original full-text publication). Such item is any discrete unit of information derived from electronic knowledge resources in response to a user query. Information items explicit clinical knowledge in a digital form. An information hit occurs when a health professional accesses or “opens” an information item. For instance, research-based information items may be received (push) or retrieved (pull), but are not necessarily opened. Health professionals screen titles of information items, and open only those that may be relevant. The relevance, cognitive impact, use and expected health outcomes of these information hits can then be documented using IAM (Information Assessment Method).
Published in Chapter:
IAM: A Comprehensive and Systematic Information Assessment Method for Electronic Knowledge Resources
Pierre Pluye (McGill University, Canada), Roland Grad (McGill University, Canada), Carol Repchinsky (Canadian Pharmacists Association, Canada), Barbara Farrell (University of Ottawa, Canada), Janique Johnson-Lafleur (McGill University, Canada), Tara Bambrick (McGill University, Canada), and Martin Dawes (McGill University, Canada)
Copyright: © 2009
|Pages: 28
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60566-356-2.ch033
Abstract
Methods to systematically document the health professionals’ perspective on relevance, cognitive impacts, use, and health outcomes of information items delivered by or retrieved in electronic knowledge resources (EKRs) may enhance evaluation of these resources, continuing education, and two-way knowledge ex change between information users and providers. The present chapter aims to overview seven years of research and development pioneering a comprehensive and systematic information assessment method (IAM), which has been validated for information delivery networks, information retrieval technology, and decision support systems. Using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies, we will support the feasibility, content validity, and construct validity of the IAM checklist combined with a computerized ecological momentary assessment technique for efficiently evaluating ‘relevance-impact-use-outcomes’ of information items derived from all these types of EKR. We will then present the current implementation of IAM 2008 for assessing e-therapeutics, an electronic textbook that provides updated therapeutic options for Canadian health professionals.