Information-seeking behaviors and attitudes of physicians toward drug information centers in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

To assess the drug information-seeking behavior of physicians in Saudi Arabia and the information resources they were using to obtain information about new drugs. The physicians' awareness of the existence of drug information centers [DICs] and their attitudes toward these centers were also investigated. Physicians were also surveyed concerning their future information needs. The study was conducted between September 2002 and June 2003. A questionnaire was sent to 2000 registered physicians. Data were collected on demographics, drug information resources currently used by physicians, attitudes towards DICs and future information needs. Response rate was 65.9%. Only 70% of the physicians were aware of the existence of DICs in KSA and 33.9% have used this service before with request rate of 0.3/month during the last 6 months prior to survey. Physicians relied heavily on books [79%], periodicals [59.2%], symposia [55.1%] and pharmacists [35.3%]. Physicians searched for information 17.5 times during the last 6 months and only 57.3% were using computers and 40% had no access to the Internet at work. Physicians in KSA had passive attitudes toward DICs. These centers are under-utilized by health care professionals, in part due to the lack of awareness of their existence by physicians. Drug newsletters and continuing education programs in information-retrieval and evaluation based on evidence-based medicine techniques to promote DIC's services should be instituted