Role of Information Professionals as Intermediaries for Knowledge Management in Evidence-Based Healthcare

Abstract

The common practice of evidence-based healthcare can also include information professionals as intermediaries in a socio-technical framework of knowledge management for supporting medical decision making. Intermediaries play a part in supporting task performance at the level of practical activity. This chapter describes challenges associated with implementation of knowledge management for evidence-based healthcare. In particular, we explore the role of intermediaries in meeting information needs of healthcare professionals. The chapter describes a field study that evaluated the impact of using intermediaries on indicators such as rigor, speed and completeness of information provision and appraisal and interpretation of knowledge selection. 3.1 Introduction There is an anomaly between the amount of time, effort, and money that is invested in seeking and providing information to healthcare practitioners in order to help their decision making and the lack of what is generated from this process. This is a typical situation for somebody using evidence based healthcare to facilitate decision making. Knowledge management (KM) in the context of evidence-based healthcare creates a learning environment and ensures that "best practice" is captured and disseminated. KM in healthcare is a complex process involving many information processes that need special skills and support. A range of tools and techniques has been considered to improve the speed and quality of information provision. Some of those are technology based, others require people in roles specifically devoted to supporting the knowledge needs of healthcare practitioners. There is a challenge in establishing the right balance and combination of the technology and human skills so that decision-making needs are met in the most effective and efficient way. The common practice of evidence-based medicine in meeting information needs of medical practitioners may also include information professionals as 28