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Sub-optimal Patterns of Information Use: A Rational Analysis of Information Seeking Behavior in Critical Care

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Cognitive Informatics in Health and Biomedicine

Part of the book series: Health Informatics ((HI))

Abstract

Human information seeking is driven by their need to satisfy their various needs [1] related to specific tasks and activities. The effectiveness of information seeking is critical in achieving high throughput and efficiency. Nevertheless, given the plethora of available data it is impossible to effectively focus on specific data – cognitive barriers such as information load, memory capacity and strategies significantly affect the effectiveness of information seeking and gathering. While much is known about the information needs and sources of information that are typically used by clinicians (both physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals) very little is known about the processes and mechanisms that underlie the clinicians’ use of the information sources. Additionally, most of the prior work on information needs and use has been conducted in primary care settings.

Portions of this chapter, including sections 2, 3 & 4 (along with tables and figures) appeared in Kannampallil et al. Understanding the nature of information seeking behavior in critical care: implications for the design of health information technology. Artificial Intelligence in Medicine. 57(1):21–9.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Cognitive Studies in Medicine and Public Health, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY, 10029, USA

    Thomas G. Kannampallil

  2. School of Biomedical Informatics, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Amy Franklin PhD

  3. National Center for Cognitive Informatics and Decision Making in Healthcare (NCCD), Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Amy Franklin PhD

  4. School of Biomedical Informatics, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, 77054, USA

    Trevor Cohen MB ChB, PhD

  5. Emory Center for Critical Care, Emory University School of Medicine, Woodruff Health Sciences Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Timothy G. Buchman PhD, MD, FACS, FCCP, MCCM

Authors
  1. Thomas G. Kannampallil
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  2. Amy Franklin PhD
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  3. Trevor Cohen MB ChB, PhD
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  4. Timothy G. Buchman PhD, MD, FACS, FCCP, MCCM
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas G. Kannampallil .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. New York Academy of Medicine, New York, New York, USA

    Vimla L. Patel

  2. Arizona State University, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA

    David R. Kaufman

  3. University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Trevor Cohen

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Kannampallil, T.G., Franklin, A., Cohen, T., Buchman, T.G. (2014). Sub-optimal Patterns of Information Use: A Rational Analysis of Information Seeking Behavior in Critical Care. In: Patel, V., Kaufman, D., Cohen, T. (eds) Cognitive Informatics in Health and Biomedicine. Health Informatics. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5490-7_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5490-7_18

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-5489-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-5490-7

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