1.1 Introduction
Health information access is the patients’ ability to identify and obtain relevant, accurate and suitable information to satisfy health information needs. Lack of access to health information is a problem because this might create a vacuum in patients understanding of their diseases and ultimately affect their perception of their capability to manage these diseases. Health-information seeking is convenience or the relative ease of accessing and using a particular source to acquire health information (Dutta-Bergman, 2006a). Similarly, seeking health information from one’s health-care provider likely requires scheduling an appointment and traveling to his or her office. Sources that are generally more convenient, such as friends, family, the Internet, magazines, and newspapers, should be used complementarily.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Electronic Information Resources (EIRs) play a vital role in helping libraries to support teaching and learning activities especially at the medical centre level by providing quality assistance to users (Ferdinand, Ruth, & Paul, 2015). These resources are valuable research tools which supplement print format resources in the hospital to provide access to information that might be restricted to the user because of geographical location or finances (Dadzie, 2005; Renwick, 2005).
Information seeking is a key resource for managing one’s health (Brashers, Goldsmith, & Hsieh, 2002; Johnson, 1997; Johnson & Meischke, 1993). People seek information to add knowledge they lack or to confirm or disconfirm their current state of beliefs, and they use that information for strategic purposes. In the contemporary information-seeking environment, a variety of sources provide health information. Health providers, family, friends, magazines, newspapers, television, books, and the Internet are some of the sources one can use to acquire health information (Brashers, 2001). The various sources are thought to serve different niches and present unique types of information about the topic (Dutta-Bergman, 2004a).
Although channel complementarity theory offers a general explanation for why individuals often use multiple sources, the utility of theory would be increased for scholars and practitioners if it made possible more specific predictions about when a particular type of source is more or less likely to be used within a specific content domain such as health. The study reported here applied and extended channel complementarity theory (Dutta-Bergman, 2004a, 2004c) to explain the use of multiple sources during the process of acquiring health information.
Source characteristics are defined in this project as the relatively enduring structural or technical features of a source. Sources are conceptualized as having multiple characteristics, with the most important characteristics of a source likely depending on the context in which the source is used. As reviewed below, prior research on health communication and information seeking suggests four characteristics, in particular, that are especially relevant to the context of searching for health information: access to medical expertise, tailorability, anonymity, and convenience.
Information need is an identified need for particular information so as to achieve an aim which could be assignment, examination, leisure or project. According to Aina (2004), information can be needed for recreation, leisure or meeting tasks that are considered crucial to survival or information that could meet day to day activities or even information that is necessary for the common good of the neighborhood, community and the nation in general. This means that information is usually needed for a purpose or different purposes. From Osicebe (2006), information needs vary in relation to subject field of users, educational background, level of experience and functions performed.
Similarly, Kumar (2008) opined that information needs vary from function to function, environment to environment, discipline to discipline and even from age to age. Uhegbu (2007) noted that information need implies a lack of something which if present would further our welfare or make easier the attainment of whatever objectives one may have in mind (Miranda et al., 2008).
Therefore, in Takum, Taraba State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Information Sources and Services Awareness Creation among Users of Health Information System.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed the challenges of the existing research work, which entails that there is problem of lack of awareness of electronic resources among Users of Health Information System notwithstanding, there seem to be a dearth of literature investigating it and recommending appropriate solutions. One major problem medical practitioner’s face in the process of searching for information is the challenge of locating good citations especially when gleaning materials from public sites on the Internet for research assignments.
Also, the most important challenges facing the world today is how to handle and manage the huge flood of information in all its forms, including medical in information. Based on this, it is important to know the most important source of health awareness among citizens and know their attitudes and behavior to inquire about health in information.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the impact of Information Sources and Services Awareness Creation among Users of Health Information System in Takum, Taraba State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To ascertain the level of awareness of information sources and services among the Users of Health Information System.
- To determine the extent of use and motivation behind the use of information sources and services.
- To identify the challenges faced by users in their use of electronic information resources.
- To assess the impact of information sources and services on the academic performance of the Health Information System users in the area under study.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Are there challenges faced by users during the utilization of information sources and services?
- What is the level of awareness of information sources and services among the Users of Health Information System?
- What is the extent of use and motivation behind the use of information sources and services?
- What is the impact of information sources and services on the academic performance of the Health Information System users in the area under study?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There are no significant challenges faced by users during the utilization of information sources and services
- H1: There are significant challenges faced by users during the utilization of information sources and services
Hypothesis Two
- H0: The level of awareness towards information sources and services among the Users of Health Information System is not encouraging
- H1: The level of awareness towards information sources and services among the Users of Health Information System is encouraging
1.7 Significance of Study
The study will be helpful to medical centre, government agencies, and policy makers as it will enable them to realize the interrelationship between Internet and education and thus work towards reflecting it in their educational policies and programs. Also, it will serve as a framework and guideline to them in establishing effective Internet network and maintain the existing ones to enable the medical personnel easily access the Internet.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Information Sources and Services Awareness Creation among Users of Health Information System in Takum, Taraba State.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
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