Information needs and information seeking behaviour in primary health care

A questionnaire survey of 186 general practitioners in Sweden showed that 67% saw the overall supply of medical information as less satisfactory or unsatisfactory, and that 80% experienced major hindrances in seeking relevant information. The most frequent need for information concerned general medicine, with respect to both diagnosis and choice of therapy. Of situations which required additional information, only every second was completely resolved. These results imply a need for a reorganization of the supply of information to general practitioners. As they cannot depend on conventional medical libraries for day-to-day information, personal libraries should be improved and updated regularly, and be readily to hand. Computer technology should be considered for communication between health care providers, and as support for differential diagnosis in general medicine.