P21S05: Urinary incontinence (medication)

Bottom line: Information on urinary incontinence was used to modify the management of a patient (add a medication). There were no information-related patient health outcomes.

Level 1 outcome (situational relevance): On May 6, 2009, P21 did a search at home, by themselves, and after an encounter with a patient. They retrieved one information hit about urinary incontinence. The reported search objectives were: to address a clinical question, and to fulfill an educational or research objective. “She [the patient, a 60 years old woman] had urinary incontinence, so I wanted to look it up [...] in terms of treatment, to make sure I gave her the right treatment. [...] I had a question about that patient, [the question was]: what is the treatment of urinary incontinence. [...] I wanted to learn so I guess in learning you’re fulfilling an educational objective.” According to P21, 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 and learning, P21 stated: “[My practice will be] improved, just [by] making sure that the treatments [I] give [to my] patients are the most recent and recommended ones. […] Learning what’s more up-to-date in terms of treatment and what medication is recommended for this and this condition [vaginal estrogens] and what’s going to help the patient the most [is important to me]. [...] I wanted her to come back and see me. I don’t think I gave her anything”

Retrieved information hit:

1) e-Therapeutics+ (CIRT): e-Therapeutics Tab – Home – Evaluate therapeutic information, Highlight about stress incontinence (P21S05H01)

Level 3 outcome (information use): Information on urinary incontinence was retrieved, and used to modify the management of a patient (information used as presented in e-Therapeutics+). “I’m gonna see the patient again in a couple of weeks, so I’ll just basically make sure she’s having the same symptoms and prescribe her the appropriate medication. [...] Because I didn’t give her anything [the first encounter, before the search for information] so it’s actually to add something [to modify her treatment next encounter].”

Level 4 outcome (patient health): Patient health outcomes were unknown (no follow-up yet).

Levels of outcome of information-seeking

Situational relevance	Positive cognitive impact	Information use	Patient health
Address a clinical question Fulfill educational objective	Practice improved Learned something	Manage differently	No outcome

Home