Using Using Information in Information in

PracticePracticeNigel Hart & Kieran Mc Nigel Hart & Kieran Mc

GladeGlade

Medical School, Queen’s University, Belfast

OutlineOutline

Data, Information & KnowledgeData, Information & Knowledge

The Information FrameworkThe Information Framework

Information access : worked Information access : worked examplesexamples

DATA

INFORMATION

KNOWLEDGE

PROCESS

ASSIMILATION

DataData

Facts, images or sounds that may or Facts, images or sounds that may or may not be pertinent or useful for a may not be pertinent or useful for a particular taskparticular task

InformationInformation

Useful data whose form and content Useful data whose form and content are relevant, appropriate and are relevant, appropriate and interpretable for a particular modelinterpretable for a particular model

KnowledgeKnowledge

Combination of information, Combination of information, instincts, rules and procedures that instincts, rules and procedures that guide actions and decisionsguide actions and decisions

Data:Information:KnowleData:Information:Knowledge - Importance and dge - Importance and

PositionPosition Medicine – A Medicine – A

Data/Information/Knowledge - rich Data/Information/Knowledge - rich environmentenvironment

D:I:K – Intellectual CapitalD:I:K – Intellectual Capital D:I:K – Plays a central & pivotal role in D:I:K – Plays a central & pivotal role in

daily transactions. daily transactions. The knowledge explosionThe knowledge explosion

Human knowledge doubling every 33 yearsHuman knowledge doubling every 33 years Medical knowledge doubling every 19 yearsMedical knowledge doubling every 19 years

DATA

INFORMATION

KNOWLEDGE

PROCESS

ASSIMILATION

What is information?What is information?

“A synthesis of two or more items of data using the declared relationships between them so as to convey meaning about those data items to the observer.”

McGlade Feb 2000

Why is information Why is information important : Part I?important : Part I?

“As a general rule the most successful man in life is the man who has the best information.”

Benjamin Disraeli 1804-1881

Why is information Why is information important : Part II?important : Part II?

““The right information at the right The right information at the right time is nine-tenths of any battle” time is nine-tenths of any battle”

Napoleon Napoleon BonaparteBonaparte

Information ManagementInformation Management

Information Management describes Information Management describes the means by which an organisation the means by which an organisation efficiently plans, collects, organises, efficiently plans, collects, organises, uses, controls, disseminates and uses, controls, disseminates and disposes of its information, and disposes of its information, and through which it ensures that the through which it ensures that the value of that information is identified value of that information is identified and exploited to the fullest extent.and exploited to the fullest extent.

Information: PoliticsInformation: Politics

• Information is powerInformation is power• Information sharing has to be Information sharing has to be

fosteredfostered

Information: CharacteristicsInformation: Characteristics

accurateaccurate timely timely relevantrelevant fit for the purposefit for the purpose

Information Characteristics: Information Characteristics: An exampleAn example

Vignette:Vignette:You are the obstetric doctor on-callYou are the obstetric doctor on-call

You are called to a 28 yr old woman short of You are called to a 28 yr old woman short of breath, with chest pain and now coughing breath, with chest pain and now coughing up bloodup blood

You diagnose : You diagnose :

a Pulmonary Embolism (PE)a Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

You know that there is a unit protocol which You know that there is a unit protocol which should be followedshould be followed

What happens next……………What happens next……………

Information: CharacteristicsInformation: Characteristics

accurateaccurate timely timely relevantrelevant fit for the purposefit for the purpose

The problem with informationThe problem with information

Too littleToo little Too muchToo much Wrong formatWrong format Difficulty in retrievalDifficulty in retrieval

Information GatheringInformation Gathering

Knowing what you knowKnowing what you know Knowing what you need to knowKnowing what you need to know Knowing how to find out what you Knowing how to find out what you

need to knowneed to know Collating what you knowCollating what you know Being able to access what you know Being able to access what you know

in a timely, accurate, relevant form in a timely, accurate, relevant form which is fit for the purposewhich is fit for the purpose

Knowing what you don’t knowKnowing what you don’t know

Organising informationOrganising information

Who is going to use the information?Who is going to use the information? For what purpose?For what purpose? In what format do they require the In what format do they require the

information?information?

Synthesizing informationSynthesizing information

From raw dataFrom raw data Via information from other sourcesVia information from other sources To knowledgeTo knowledge

Information framework: Information framework: informationinformation

Something that people need to know Something that people need to know and apply in their work, to achieve and apply in their work, to achieve their objectives and those of the their objectives and those of the organisationorganisation

Information framework: Information framework: acquisitionacquisition

What information do staff in this unit What information do staff in this unit ACQUIRE?ACQUIRE? Where do they get it from, internal or Where do they get it from, internal or

external sources (or both)?external sources (or both)? PatientsPatients PartnersPartners ReceptionistsReceptionists Drug RepsDrug Reps DOHDOH BMABMA Public Health LaboratoryPublic Health Laboratory

Information framework: Information framework: creationcreation

What information do staff in this unit What information do staff in this unit CREATE?CREATE? How do they create it?How do they create it? Why do they create it?Why do they create it?

Patients’ notesPatients’ notes MemosMemos GuidelinesGuidelines ProtocolsProtocols

Information framework: Information framework: processprocess

What information do staff in this unit What information do staff in this unit PROCESS?PROCESS? How do they store it?How do they store it? How do they file it?How do they file it? How do they extract information?How do they extract information? How do they input information?How do they input information? How do they search for information? How do they search for information?

Information framework: Information framework: transmissiontransmission

What information do staff in this unit What information do staff in this unit TRANSMIT?TRANSMIT? To whom?To whom? Inside or outside the organisation?Inside or outside the organisation? In what format?In what format? Why?Why?

Information framework: peopleInformation framework: people

Who are the people involved?Who are the people involved? What is their remit?What is their remit? What are their responsibilities?What are their responsibilities? What do they consider to be their What do they consider to be their

responsibilities?responsibilities? What information-handling skills do What information-handling skills do

they have?they have?

Information framework: peopleInformation framework: people

Colleagues working in a unit can be Colleagues working in a unit can be defined as stakeholding groupsdefined as stakeholding groups

Different groups have different Different groups have different information needsinformation needs

These needs may conflictThese needs may conflict

Information in the practice

In the doctor’s head

On the shelf

In the case notes

In colleagues’ heads

Difficulties with Difficulties with information in General information in General

PracticePractice Getting the right information at the Getting the right information at the

right time.right time. Workload and brevity of consultations.Workload and brevity of consultations. Large number of knowledge domains.Large number of knowledge domains. Reliability of information difficult to Reliability of information difficult to

assess.assess. Keeping up to date.Keeping up to date.

How can technology and the internet help?

Document access Online Journals

Keep up to date

CPD

Answer difficult questions Contact with peers

Some worked examplesSome worked examples

Is St John’s Wort any good?Is St John’s Wort any good?

What is the best treatment option for prostate What is the best treatment option for prostate carcinoma in a 45 year oldcarcinoma in a 45 year old

I’ve been told St John’s Wort is I’ve been told St John’s Wort is very helpful for depression - very helpful for depression - what do you think doctor?what do you think doctor?

What do you say?What do you say? I’m not that sort of doctor.I’m not that sort of doctor. That’s just so much mumbo-jumbo.That’s just so much mumbo-jumbo. Let me see if there are any Let me see if there are any

systematicsystematic

reviewsreviews

What is the best What is the best treatment for a 45 year treatment for a 45 year

old with prostate cancer?old with prostate cancer?Search EnginesSearch Engines

CDCCDC

ProdigyProdigy

NICENICE

CONCLUSIONS