The information seeking behaviour of nurses in the UK

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Wakeham, Maurice^{; *}

Affiliations: Anglia Polytechnic University, Chelmsford, Essex, UK

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: M. Wakeham, Faculty Library, Health and Social Work, Anglia Polytechnic University, Chelmsford, Essex, UK.

Abstract: Little has been written about the information needs and information seeking behaviour of nurses. The British Library funded project described here has sought to identify the kinds of information sought by nurses and student nurses; their use of libraries was investigated. The study found that nurses most often need information in relation to patient or client care and for their own personal interest. They are least interested in information that relates to new courses or jobs or in preparing for interviews for them. An individual's own journals and their nursing colleagues are the main sources of information. Libraries were found to be relatively little used except when research or coursework were being undertaken. Asking the librarian and browsing the shelves were the most common ways of finding information in the library. Changes in nursing education imply an expanding role for nursing libraries which they are at present ill equipped to satisfy.

DOI: 10.3233/ISU-1992-12205

Journal: Information Services & Use, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 131-140, 1992