Factors affecting the use of e-resources by health professionals within a New Zealand District Health Board

Abstract

With the increase in evidence-based health care and the growth in electronic resources provided by health libraries, it is necessary to investigate who uses e-resources and what they are used for by New Zealand District Health Board clinicians. The Leckie, Pettigrew and Sylvain model of information seeking by professionals is tested. This study surveys clinicians (medical professionals, nurses and allied health professionals) employed by Waikato District Health Board. At the beginning of 2005 a quantitative questionnaire was distributed to 1,500 clinicians representing a sample of Waikato District Health Boad clinicians. The study found that Medline is one of the major databases used by all clinicians, with Cinahl being the second major database for nurses and allied health professionals. This study found as other past studies, that gender makes a difference in the use of electronic resources, but age did not. Training was found to have a positive impact on the amount clinicians use electronic resources. The profession that a clinician practices (e.g. medical, nursing or allied health) influences the use of electronic resources. When studying clinicians tend to use electronic resources more than those not studying. Clinicians based off campus (away from Waikato Hospital) have less access to computers and used electronic resources less than those on campus. It was found that those who used electronic resources are more likely to support the idea that electronic resources are useful for patient care.