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Dissertation Information for Edward Carl Lomax

NAME:
- Edward Carl Lomax

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- University of Pittsburgh (USA) (1999)

ADVISORS:
- Ellen Detlefsen

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- Edie Rasmussen
- Michael Lewis
- Henry Lowe

MPACT Status: Fully Complete

Title: An investigation of the information-seeking behavior of medical oncologists in the metropolitan Pittsburgh area using a multimethod approach

Abstract: In the course of the diagnosis and treatment of the cancer patient, the medical oncologist is actively involved in both information seeking and the dissemination of information. In an effort to gain an improved understanding of the information needs and information-seeking behavior of medical oncologists, a number of areas related to the acquisition, retrieval, and use of information by a population of medical oncologists with practices in the metropolitan area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania were investigated in this study.

Data for this study was collected through the use of a multimethod research design comprised of the postal survey of 120 medical oncologists in the metropolitan Pittsburgh area as well as the structured observation, in an outpatient clinical setting, of seven of these oncologists and the semi-structured personal interview of these seven oncologists and an eighth oncologist which sought to determine their attitudes and beliefs regarding their use of information resources and information technology in meeting their clinical information needs and as part of their process of information seeking.

From the survey questionnaire it was found that 41 percent (n = 49) of these oncologists used a variety of information types and resources for clinical decision making and patient care. These respondents were found to consult a variety of types of information resources and information technologies when seeking information needed for patient care with the information contained in Computed Tomography scans, Magnetic Resonance Images, and X-ray images an essential component of their clinical practice. In addition, the oncologists who were observed were found to have frequent communication and collaboration with both healthcare providers and patients as part of the information-seeking process. The interview respondents made it clear that familiarity, ease-of-use, and accessibility were key components in their selection of information resources. For these respondents, emerging information systems and technology such as networked databases, multimedia clinical information systems, and computer-aided decision support tools would be both welcome and useful supplements to their clinical practice.

MPACT Scores for Edward Carl Lomax

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:24:44

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Students under Edward Carl Lomax

ADVISEES:
- None

COMMITTEESHIPS:
- None