P29S07: Sore throat

Bottom line: Information on sore throat was used to maintain the management of a patient (double check dose of antibiotics). There were no information-related patient health outcomes.

Level 1 outcome (situational relevance): On May 1, 2009, P29 did a search at home, by themselves, and after an encounter with a patient. They retrieved two information hits about sore throat. The reported search objectives were: to fulfill an educational or research objective and to look up something they had forgotten. “He [the patient, a man in his thirties] had a fever, a sore throat, lymph nodes, and pus on his tonsils. So he met the criteria for treating for strep throat. […] The staff that I was reviewing with gave me the dose of penicillin. It was a weird dose that I actually don’t remember, I didn’t recognize it. […] I figured I’d forgotten the adult dose. […] I was just sort of trying to get a clear answer as to what’s a usual dose. . […]I used this [e-Therapeutics+] as a secondary source to corroborate. […] This search was triggered by the study, that’s why I said fulfill a research objective” According to P29, e-Therapeutics+ was the only [other] source for information, and the found information was relevant.

Level 2 outcome (cognitive impact): The second hit was associated with a report of positive cognitive impact (see table). Regarding confirmation, reassurance and reminder, P29 stated: “[Table 2 confirmed I did the right thing] because that [600 mg po b.i.d. x 10 days] was the dose we gave him. […] I’m still convincing myself I knew it at some point. […] If they’d said 600 b.i.d. is too high of a dose, I wouldn’t have been reassured” (regarding (P29S07H02).

Retrieved information hits:

1) e-Therapeutics+ (CIRT): Therapeutics Tab – Infectious diseases – Streptococcal sore throat – Highlight (P29S07H01)

2) e-Therapeutics+ (CIRT): Therapeutics Tab – Infectious diseases – Streptococcal sore throat – Table 2 – Third column: Penicillin dose (P29S07H02)

Level 3 outcome (information use): Information on sore throat was retrieved, and used to maintain (be more certain about) the management of a patient (information was used as presented in e-Therapeutics+). “I’m glad [I double-checked and] that it was the right [dosage we had given the patient].”

Level 4 outcome (patient health): Regarding patient health, P29 reported that there were no information-related outcomes.

Levels of outcome of information-seeking

Situational relevance	Positive cognitive impact	Information use	Patient health
Fulfill educational objective Look up something forgotten	Reminded something Confirmed Reassured	Be more certain	No outcome

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