The moderating effect of information channel on the relationship between type of information search and knowledge of genetically modified organisms.

This study explores how the type of information search and information channel can influence the objective knowledge of consumers on genetically modified organisms. We divided the types of information search on genetically modified organisms into active and passive seekers, and then examined how their knowledge differed depending on preferred the information channel (i.e., government, portals, non-government organization (NGO) sites). An online survey was conducted with Korean men and women aged 19 or older. The main and interaction effects of the type of information search, and government, portal, and NGO sites were statistically significant. The results showed that active information seekers who prefer government, portal, and NGO sites have lower scores of knowledge on genetically modified organisms than that of passive information seekers, given the confusion of competing and sometimes inaccurate information sources.

Drug information center: challenges of the research process to answer enquiries in hospital pharmaceutical practices.

OBJECTIVE: To characterise information requests (IRs) from hospitals received by a drug information center (DIC-RS) according to the resolution of the inquiries. METHOD: The sample consisted of all requestors and their respective IRs registered in the DIC-RS database from January 2012 to December 2016. Request without information in the consulted literature (RWI) were categorised according to the institution of origin. IRs from hospitals were classified by the information source, topic and subtopic of the questions, and the number of drugs and the pharmacological or therapeutic group. RESULTS: A total of 2,500 IRs were analysed. Of those, 25% did not exhibit conclusive information in the consulted sources. RWI from hospitals represented 51% of all RWI, followed by those from community pharmacies (13%) and health centres (9%). Tertiary literature was the most commonly used source (73%) for IRs from hospitals. The greatest difficulties in finding information were related to off-label drug administration and indication issues (52% of RWI). The most common type of off-label use was related to changes in the original pharmaceutical form of the drug. Furthermore, 61% of RWI were directed at a specific drug, mostly systemic anti-infectives. CONCLUSION: We found that a quarter of the answers did not exhibit conclusive information in the consulted sources. Answers to IRs from the hospital environment exhibited the greatest extent of limited information, and off-label use was responsible for most cases.

How health information is received by diabetic patients?

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of correct information-seeking behavior by the patients can provide health specialists and health information specialists with valuable information in improving health care. This study aimed to investigate the passive receipt and active seeking of health information by diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey method was used in this research on 6426 diabetic patients of whom 362 patients were selected by a no percentage stratified random sampling. The Longo information-seeking behavior questionnaire was used to collect data and they were analyzed by SPSS 20 software. RESULTS: The most common information source by diabetic patients was practitioners (3.12). The minimum usage among the information sources were from charity organizations and emergency phone lines with a usage of close to zero. The amount of health information gained passively from each source has the lowest average of 4.18 and usage of this information in making health decision has the highest average score of 5.83. Analysis of the data related to active seeking of information showed that knowledge of available medical information from each source has the lowest average score of 3.95 and ability in using the acquired information for making medical decisions has the highest average score of 5.28. The paired t-test showed that differences between passive information receipt (41.68) and active information seeking (39.20) considered as statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Because diabetic patients are more passive information receivers than active information seekers, the health information must be distributed by passive means to these patients. In addition, information-seeking behavior during different time periods should be investigated; to identify more effective distribution of health information.

Centro de informações sobre medicamentos: avaliação das informações passivas em hospital universitário no sul do Brasil / Drug information center: survey of passive information in university hospital in southern Brazil

Objetivo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever as atividades passivas realizadas por um Centro de Informações sobre Medicamentos (CIM) de hospital universitário no sul do Brasil. Resultados: de 2002 a 2008, o total de solicitações recebidas foi de 8035, das quais 30,3% foram realizadas por enfermeiros, 24,3% por farmacêuticos e 15% por técnicos de enfermagem. O tempo gasto para a resposta foi em 56,8% das vezes de até 10 minutos. Os temas mais solicitados foram administração de medicamentos (25,6%), identificação do produto (16,4%), posologia (10,6%) e estabilidade (9,6%). Conclusão: O CIM é uma estratégia na busca pelo uso seguro e racional de medicamentos nos hospitais.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the passive activities of Drug Information Center (DIC) of a university hospital in southern Brazil. Results: From 2002 to 2008, the total of requests was 8035, of which 30.3% were answered by nurses, 24.3% pharmacists and 15% technical nursing. The time spent to response was less than 10 minutes in 56.8%. The principal requests were about drug administration (25.6%), identification of the product (16.4%), dosage (10.6%) and stability (9.6%). Conclusion: The DIC is a strategy in the search for safe and rational use of drugs in hospitals.