User sensitisation and orientation: a case study of postgraduates in the medical sciences

Abstract

A programme to sensitise and orient postgraduates in the medical sciences regarding certain aspects of information and information systems in the medical sciences is described. The programme placed relatively greater empha sis on efficient and effective use of computer-based systems, especially on the user interface; medical personnel develop ing personal databases, particularly of case records of patients, discussion papers, reports, etc, and networking through exchange of specialised information. Topics pre sented and discussed: (i) working definition and scope of data, information and knowledge; (ii) health professionals as generators, recorders, communicators, disseminators and users of information; (iii) information needs in problem solving, decision making, planning, research, teaching, com munication with people at large and awareness of develop ments; (iv) necessity for a detailed analysis, structuring, precise expression of information to be stored in informa tion systems and of users' queries; (v) framework for analysis of information need; (vi) data and information generation by medical professionals; (vii) information transfer channels; (viii) institutional information potential: records and people; (ix) information system capabilities and user problems; (x) information communication: oral and written; barriers to effective communication; (xi) infor mation technology and its role; (xii) user-machine interface: problems and solutions; (xiii) user participation in in- house information system design and development; (xiv) computer-based information systems: overview; (xv) types of databases: functions and contents; (xvi) design and development of databases by medical professionals, demon stration and practice: case records of patients, biblio graphic, factual, etc, using MicroIsis; information retrieval; searching CD-ROM Medline; full-text CD-ROM databases. The presentations included lectures, case studies, discus sion, demonstrations and hands-on exercises; use of over head transparencies and data show pad for computer output projection, a variety of local object-oriented and bibliographic databases and CD-ROMs. Course evaluation: almost all participants responded positively to every ques tion, indicating that the topics covered and the methodology used were quite acceptable and useful to them.