P03S07: Urinary tract infection (diagnostic test)
Bottom line: Information on urinary tract infection was used to maintain the management of the
patient (testing). There were no information-related patient health outcomes.
Level 1 outcome (situational relevance): On December 10, 2008, P03 did a search at work, by themselves, and
after an encounter with a patient. They retrieved one information hit about
treatment following a MSU [midstream
specimen of urine]. The reported search
objective was to address a clinical question. I saw the patient in the clinic [a woman in her
late fifties]. We did a urine test. [
] We got the MSU, the urine test said she
was growing a certain bacteria in her urine. So, I was looking to see which
drugs acted on this specific microorganism. [
] I had an idea of what I was
going to do, but I wanted to confirm. According to P03, e-Therapeutics+ was the only source
for information, and the found information was relevant.
Level 2 outcome (cognitive impact): One hit was associated with a report of positive cognitive impact (see table). Regarding practice improvement, P03 stated: I now have the
information as I actually printed off one of the tables [
] to take with me for
my other patients. Its not something I have to memorize but I take with me.
[
] It helped me to understand which drug is best to prescribe for certain
microorganisms. [This] actual table I was familiar with, and knew how to
prescribe the drugs and the adverse effects.
Retrieved information hit(s):
1) e-Therapeutics+ (CIRT): Therapeutic tab -
infectious diseases - urinary tract
infection chapter (P03S07H01).
Level 3 outcome
(information use): Information on treatment following a MSU 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+). I contacted the patient to let her know the results and what I was going
to be prescribing for her and to find out the pharmacy information and then
called the prescription in for the patient..
Level 4 outcome (patient health): Without this information, P03s 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 |
Practice improved Learned something Motivated to learn |
Be more certain Understand issue |
No outcome |