Accessibility of medical information by medical officers attached to divisional hospitals in rural Sri Lanka

Medical Officers (MOs) need to update their knowledge with diagnosis of diseases, current treatment modalities, guidelines on management etc. in order to provide a better service to the intended communities. The present study attempts to identify the information needs, perceived barriers and challenges of MOs attached to “Divisional Hospital Type-C” (DH Type-C) (rural) hospitals in Sri Lanka.This research was a descriptive study. A Self Administered Questionnaire was used as the data collection tool. The study population consists of MOs in DH Type-C Hospitals in Sri Lanka. Sample size was calculated using the Lwanga‟s and Lemeshow‟s formula. Accordingly, there were 400 MOs attached to the 192 DH Type-C. Study shows that information about diagnosis, drug, treatment and patient data were identified as highly important by rural MOs. Data suggested that a higher proportion of aged MOs needed medical information than did young MOs. Also, it can be seen that the main driving purposes of MOs‟ information needs were to be up to date; answering patients‟ and their families‟ questions, and to answer colleagues‟ questions and confirm opinion. Internet, medical blogs, medical devices and personal contacts with colleagues were most highly used as sources of information. Further, most MOs suggested that if the medical authority could develop a proper medical system to help MOs to continue with health education, that will be a fruitful activity for the country.