Information management and reading habits of German diabetologists: a questionnaire survey

Journals play an important part in continuing medical education and in influencing the prescription of drugs. Because little is known about reading habits and information management of specialists a questionnaire survey among German diabetologists was conducted.

A non-randomised sample of 461 German diabetologists was selected from a database of German diabetologists ( n=1585). A questionnaire was developed (92 items) which consisted of eight sections: continuing education in general, decision making and problem solving, use of databases, reading habits, knowledge of technical terms and critical appraisal skills, personal data.

The adjusted response rate was 57% (crude 52%). Most influential factors for therapeutic decision making were due to own experience, continuing education events, published material, and colleagues. The influence of industry related factors was perceived low. A relatively high rate of respondents (39%) perceived the influence by patients as rather low. Overall 90% had convenient access to the internet, MedLine or EMBASE but only 45% searched databases regularly (three searches per month). Median time for reading journals was 3 h a week. Five journals were read regularly, 25% of which were diabetological journals and 47% of the respondents did not read English written journals regularly. The methods section of an article was seldom read whereas the abstract and the discussion were almost always read. Most respondents had some understanding of technical terms but reported practices of appraising articles were inadequate.

It could be shown that reading expenditures and critical appraisal skills of diabetologists are slightly higher compared with non-specialists. But the concept of evidence-based medicine still does not seem to be incorporated in clinical practice.