Coping up with the Information Overload in the Medical Profession
ABSTRACT
The recent technological advancement has proved to be tremendously helpful for medical consultants. However, this advancement has also generated an enormous volume and variety of data, with a high velocity causing an information load for the medical consultants. Information overload can be defined as a difficulty a person can have in comprehending issue and making judgments that are caused by the presence of too much information. Information overload occurs when the amount of input to a system surpasses its processing capability. Decision-makers have a limited cognitive processing ability. Consequently, when information overload happens, it is possible that a decline in decision quality will take place. Decision-makers, such as medical consultants, have fairly limited cognitive processing capacity. Consequently, when information overload occurs, it is likely that a reduction in decision quality will occur. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of information overload on medical consultants’ life, its causes, and potential ways to deal with it. We performed a literature review to find the effects of information overload on medical consultants. Twelve research papers were considered for thematic analysis using NVivo 10 tool. These papers revealed four themes: 1) traditional methods of data collection; 2) modern ways of data collection; 3) consequences of modern ways of data collection; and 4) the need for handling information overload. This study suggests the development of a Continuing Professional Development course that explains how to deal with information overload, and availing the same through E-Learning mode might be one immediate solution.
The recent technological advancement has proved to be tremendously helpful for medical consultants. However, this advancement has also generated an enormous volume and variety of data, with a high velocity causing an information load for the medical consultants. Information overload can be defined as a difficulty a person can have in comprehending issue and making judgments that are caused by the presence of too much information. Information overload occurs when the amount of input to a system surpasses its processing capability. Decision-makers have a limited cognitive processing ability. Consequently, when information overload happens, it is possible that a decline in decision quality will take place. Decision-makers, such as medical consultants, have fairly limited cognitive processing capacity. Consequently, when information overload occurs, it is likely that a reduction in decision quality will occur. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of information overload on medical consultants’ life, its causes, and potential ways to deal with it. We performed a literature review to find the effects of information overload on medical consultants. Twelve research papers were considered for thematic analysis using NVivo 10 tool. These papers revealed four themes: 1) traditional methods of data collection; 2) modern ways of data collection; 3) consequences of modern ways of data collection; and 4) the need for handling information overload. This study suggests the development of a Continuing Professional Development course that explains how to deal with information overload, and availing the same through E-Learning mode might be one immediate solution.
Cite this paper
Kumar, A. and Maskara, S. (2015) Coping up with the Information Overload in the Medical Profession. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 3, 124-127. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2015.311016.
Kumar, A. and Maskara, S. (2015) Coping up with the Information Overload in the Medical Profession. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 3, 124-127. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2015.311016.
References
[1] Hall, A. and Walton, G. (2004) Information Overload within the Health Care System: A Literature Review. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 21, 102-108.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-1842.2004.00506.x [2] Bawden, D. and Robinson, L. (2009) The Dark Side of Information: Overload, Anxiety and Other Paradoxes and Pathologies. Journal of Information Science, 35, 180-191.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0165551508095781 [3] Dawes, M. and Sampson, U. (2003) Knowledge Management in Clinical Practice: A Systematic Review of Information Seeking Behavior in Physicians. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 71, 9-15.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1386-5056(03)00023-6 [4] Beasley, J.W., Wetterneck, T.B., Temte, J., Lapin, J.A., Smith, P., Rivera-Rodriguez, A.J. and Karsh, B.T. (2011) Information Chaos in Primary Care: Implications for Physician Performance and Patient Safety. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 24, 745-751.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2011.06.100255 [5] Hanka, R. and Fuka, K. (2000) Information Overload and “Just-in-Time” Knowledge. The Electronic Library, 18, 279- 285.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02640470010346021 [6] De Lusignan, S., Lakhani, M. and Chan, T. (2003) The Role of Informatics in Continuing Professional Development and Quality Improvement in Primary Care. Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, 49, 163. [7] Davies, K. (2007) The Information-Seeking Behavior of Doctors: A Review of the Evidence. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 24, 78-94.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-1842.2007.00713.x [8] Smith, R. (2010) Strategies for Coping with Information Overload. BMJ, 341, c7126.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c7126 [9] Holzinger, A., Geierhofer, R. and Errath, M. (2007) Semantic Information in Medical Information Systems from Data and Information to Knowledge: Facing Information Overload. Proceedings of I-MEDIA, 7, 323-330. [10] Hunt, R.E. and Newman, R.G. (1997) Medical Knowledge Overload: A Disturbing Trend for Physicians. Health Care Management Review, 22, 70-75.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00004010-199724000-00009 [11] Underhill, J. and Pegler, S. (2005) Dealing with Information Overload: Application of Evidence at Point of Care. Pharmaceutical Journal, 274. [12] Davis, D., O’Brien, M.A.T., Freemantle, N., Wolf, F.M., Mazmanian, P. and Taylor-Vaisey, A. (1999) Impact of Formal Continuing Medical Education: Do Conferences, Workshops, Rounds, and Other Traditional Continuing Education Activities Change Physician Behavior or Health Care Outcomes? JAMA, 28, 867-874.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.282.9.867 [13] Achike, F.I. and Ogle, C.W. (2000) Information Overload in the Teaching of Pharmacology. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 40, 177-183.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00912700022008838 [14] Hanka, R., O’Brien, C., Heathfield, H. and Buchan, I. (1999) WAX Active Library; a Tool to Manage Information Overload. Topics in Health Information Management, 20, 69-82.
[1] Hall, A. and Walton, G. (2004) Information Overload within the Health Care System: A Literature Review. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 21, 102-108.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-1842.2004.00506.x [2] Bawden, D. and Robinson, L. (2009) The Dark Side of Information: Overload, Anxiety and Other Paradoxes and Pathologies. Journal of Information Science, 35, 180-191.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0165551508095781 [3] Dawes, M. and Sampson, U. (2003) Knowledge Management in Clinical Practice: A Systematic Review of Information Seeking Behavior in Physicians. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 71, 9-15.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1386-5056(03)00023-6 [4] Beasley, J.W., Wetterneck, T.B., Temte, J., Lapin, J.A., Smith, P., Rivera-Rodriguez, A.J. and Karsh, B.T. (2011) Information Chaos in Primary Care: Implications for Physician Performance and Patient Safety. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 24, 745-751.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2011.06.100255 [5] Hanka, R. and Fuka, K. (2000) Information Overload and “Just-in-Time” Knowledge. The Electronic Library, 18, 279- 285.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02640470010346021 [6] De Lusignan, S., Lakhani, M. and Chan, T. (2003) The Role of Informatics in Continuing Professional Development and Quality Improvement in Primary Care. Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, 49, 163. [7] Davies, K. (2007) The Information-Seeking Behavior of Doctors: A Review of the Evidence. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 24, 78-94.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-1842.2007.00713.x [8] Smith, R. (2010) Strategies for Coping with Information Overload. BMJ, 341, c7126.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c7126 [9] Holzinger, A., Geierhofer, R. and Errath, M. (2007) Semantic Information in Medical Information Systems from Data and Information to Knowledge: Facing Information Overload. Proceedings of I-MEDIA, 7, 323-330. [10] Hunt, R.E. and Newman, R.G. (1997) Medical Knowledge Overload: A Disturbing Trend for Physicians. Health Care Management Review, 22, 70-75.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00004010-199724000-00009 [11] Underhill, J. and Pegler, S. (2005) Dealing with Information Overload: Application of Evidence at Point of Care. Pharmaceutical Journal, 274. [12] Davis, D., O’Brien, M.A.T., Freemantle, N., Wolf, F.M., Mazmanian, P. and Taylor-Vaisey, A. (1999) Impact of Formal Continuing Medical Education: Do Conferences, Workshops, Rounds, and Other Traditional Continuing Education Activities Change Physician Behavior or Health Care Outcomes? JAMA, 28, 867-874.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.282.9.867 [13] Achike, F.I. and Ogle, C.W. (2000) Information Overload in the Teaching of Pharmacology. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 40, 177-183.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00912700022008838 [14] Hanka, R., O’Brien, C., Heathfield, H. and Buchan, I. (1999) WAX Active Library; a Tool to Manage Information Overload. Topics in Health Information Management, 20, 69-82.