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BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
Published in: BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Physicians’ pharmacogenomics information needs and seeking behavior: a study with case vignettes

Authors: Bret S. E. Heale, Aly Khalifa, Bryan L. Stone, Scott Nelson, Guilherme Del Fiol

Published in: BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Genetic testing, especially in pharmacogenomics, can have a major impact on patient care. However, most physicians do not feel that they have sufficient knowledge to apply pharmacogenomics to patient care. Online information resources can help address this gap. We investigated physicians’ pharmacogenomics information needs and information-seeking behavior, in order to guide the design of pharmacogenomics information resources that effectively meet clinical information needs.

Methods

We performed a formative, mixed-method assessment of physicians’ information-seeking process in three pharmacogenomics case vignettes. Interactions of 6 physicians’ with online pharmacogenomics resources were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for prominent themes. Quantitative data included information-seeking duration, page navigations, and number of searches entered.

Results

We found that participants searched an average of 8 min per case vignette, spent less than 30 s reviewing specific content, and rarely refined search terms. Participants’ information needs included a need for clinically meaningful descriptions of test interpretations, a molecular basis for the clinical effect of drug variation, information on the logistics of carrying out a genetic test (including questions related to cost, availability, test turn-around time, insurance coverage, and accessibility of expert support).Also, participants sought alternative therapies that would not require genetic testing.

Conclusion

This study of pharmacogenomics information-seeking behavior indicates that content to support their information needs is dispersed and hard to find. Our results reveal a set of themes that information resources can use to help physicians find and apply pharmacogenomics information to the care of their patients.
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Metadata
Title
Physicians’ pharmacogenomics information needs and seeking behavior: a study with case vignettes
Authors
Bret S. E. Heale
Aly Khalifa
Bryan L. Stone
Scott Nelson
Guilherme Del Fiol
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6947
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-017-0510-9

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