PubMed · 2730793
The source did not provide an abstract. Follow the original record for more information.
Explore connections, maps & timelines
A B Way. Computing for preventive medicine specialists.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2730793/
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
KEEP EXPLORING
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
OBJECTIVES: The use of IT in health care has merged advanced knowledge and skills for health care professionals. Former studies indicate that basic skills in computer use are no more than comprehensive competencies to manage electronically stored information in health care. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature focusing on the concept information literacy in the field of health, nursing and medical informatics. The target is to find out how information literacy is defined, in what kind of context it is presented and who are the focus of interest. METHODS: An automated literature search was performed on-line to Medline and by using the EndNote Bibliographic Software. All together the number of papers analyzed was 97 or 78% of the total literature search result. RESULTS: The survey indicates that the concept information literacy does not exist as such in the literature, but it can be found as a synonym to 'computer literacy' or even more obscure concepts such as 'informatics awareness' or 'computer experience'. The definitions of these concepts varied considerably. A variety of descriptions of educational programs were also found, none were based on the IMIA recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: In international cooperation such as that of IMIA WG1, a wide range of efforts still needs to be carried out to compile educational programmes in health informatics to enhance knowledge and skills in computer use among health care professionals.
The effectiveness and quality of health informatics systems' support to healthcare delivery are largely determined by two factors-the suitability of the system installed, and the competence of the users. However, the profile of users of large-scale clinical health systems is significantly different from the profile of end-users in other enterprises such as the finance sector, insurance, travel or retail sales. Work with a mental health provider in Ireland, who was introducing a customized electronic patient record (EPR) system, identified the strong legal and ethical importance of adequately skills for the health professionals and others, who would be the system users. The experience identified the need for a clear and comprehensive generic user qualification at a basic but robust level. The European computer driving license (ECDL) has gained wide recognition as a basic generic qualification for users of computer systems. However, health systems and data have a series of characteristics that differentiate them from other data systems. The logical conclusion was the recognition of a need for an additional domain-specific qualification-an "ECDL Health Supplement". Development of this is now being progressed.