P02S04: Headaches
Bottom line: Information on headaches was used to maintain the
management of a patient (CT scan). There were no information-related patient
health outcomes.
Level 1 outcome (situational relevance): On May 25, 2008, P02 did a search at home, by themselves, and after an
encounter with a patient. They retrieved one information hit about headache in children. The reported search objectives were: to
address a clinical question, to search in general or for curiosity, and to
exchange information with other health professionals. It was a girl. I
think she was eight or nine. [
] Just a patient who had come with history of
headaches, and I thought there was some red flags in terms of the type of
headache she was having. And I think I just wanted to read more about what the
[e-Therapeutics+] site had to say about headache in children, frequent
headaches. [
] Just to look at that in regard to this particular patient but
also, just in general about other patients I may see; [
] [and] just again
looking for future conversations [with colleagues] about this topic. According to P02, the information from
e-Therapeutics+ was in agreement with and equally relevant to the information
from another paper-based resource (Emergency textbook). I have a Clinical Emergency book that might have
been the one. [
] It didn't address the same green highlight but the other
information was similar.
Level 2 outcome (cognitive impact): One hit was associated with a report of positive cognitive impact (see table). Regarding confirmation, reassurance, and reminder, P02 stated: [The information
confirmed] how I manage the patient. I believe, this patient,
I sent her for a CT scan. And [
] the information was supporting that. [
] [I
was reassured] because I think I did the right thing. [
] [its] just
reinforcing what you know; [
] just looking at all the information that it gave
about headaches and what are the worries and signs and things like that.
Retrieved
information hit(s):
1) e-Therapeutics+ (CIRT): Therapeutics tab key word:
Headache in children Neurologic disorders. Headache in children Highlight and
paragraph investigations (P02S04H01)
Level 3 outcome
(information use): Information on headache in
children was retrieved, and used to better understand a
specific issue with respect to the management of the patient, and to maintain (be
more certain about) the management of the patient (information used as
presented in e-Therapeutics+). What I did with that patient [send her for a CT scan] that was their
suggestion as well.
Level 4 outcome (patient health): Without this information hit, P02s management of the patient would have been
the same. There were no clear relationships between the use of
information and expected patient health outcomes.
Levels of outcome of information-seeking
|
Situational relevance |
Positive cognitive
impact |
Information use |
Patient health |
|
Address a clinical question Satisfy curiosity Exchange information |
Reminded something Confirmed Reassured |
Be more certain Understand issue |
No outcome |