INFORMATION NEEDS OF DECISION-MAKERS IN HEALTHCARE: REDUCING THE KNOWLEDGE TO ACTION GAP

SMDM ABSTRACT 2014

Information Needs of Decision-Makers in Healthcare: Reducing the Knowledge to Action Gap

Purpose:    The purpose of this study was to identify public and private decision-makers' healthcare information needs to promote information use and evidence-informed decision-making.  This study is part of a broader knowledge translation assessment of information uptake and use within the US.

Method:    Open-ended key-informant interviews were conducted with a sample of 37 decision-makers in the Houston/Harris County Healthcare Safety Net, including legislators, executive managers, service providers, and healthcare funders.  Decision-makers were asked to identify current practices as well as preferences for sources, formats/styles, and modes of receiving information in making important decisions and the basis for their preferences.

Result:    The findings revealed that decision-makers use various sources, formats/styles, and modes of information generally based on availability, however, prefer: (1) their own organizations, government organizations, organizations with similar missions and goals as sources of information; (2) short summaries, full analysis, and white papers as formats/styles of information; and (3) information received through face-to-face briefings, email, and web searches, based on the need for timely, time-saving, and trustworthy or “quality” information.

Conclusion:    The findings of this study may be used to promote healthcare information use in efforts to reduce the evidence to policy and practice gap.  By becoming familiar with decision-makers' practices and preferences for information, knowledge producers and users can work towards developing mutually valued, comprehensible, and usable findings within complex health systems leading to sustainable knowledge translation efforts long-term.