Biomaterial Database

Survey of the information-seeking patterns of dental hygienists. 1998

P Covington, and B J Craig

Dental Hygiene Program, College of New Caledonia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. covington@cnc.bc.ca

This descriptive study explored the methods that dental hygienists in northern British Columbia have utilized to access information. A self-administered questionnaire sent to 130 dental hygienists registered in that geographic experienced a response rate of 81.5 percent. The respondents preferred and utilized traditional information sources such as discussions with colleagues, journal articles, and mailings from professional associations and licensing bodies. The least utilized information sources were the indices to the literature and electronic information sources. Geographic isolation, lack of electronic information sources, and costs were identified as the top three barriers to information access. Dental hygienists may need to acquire or improve computer literacy skills while in school and through continuing education to enable them to use the newer methods of electronic information retrieval and communications because dental hygienists need to access a variety of information sources to provide quality care.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007255	Information Services	Organized services to provide information on any questions an individual might have using databases and other sources. (From Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed)	Information Networks,Information Specialists,Services, Information,Information Network,Information Service,Information Specialist,Network, Information,Networks, Information,Service, Information,Specialist, Information,Specialists, Information
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010506	Periodicals as Topic	Works about publications issued at stated, more or less regular, intervals.	Journals as Topic,Magazines,Newsletters,Magazine,Newsletter
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D012111	Residence Characteristics	Elements of residence that characterize a population. They are applicable in determining need for and utilization of health services.	Community,Domicile,Living Arrangements,Neighborhood,Place of Birth,Residential Selection,Arrangement, Living,Birth Place,Communities,Domiciles,Living Arrangement,Neighborhoods,Residence Characteristic
D001955	British Columbia	A province of Canada on the Pacific coast. Its capital is Victoria. The name given in 1858 derives from the Columbia River which was named by the American captain Robert Gray for his ship Columbia which in turn was named for Columbus. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p178 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p81-2)
D003142	Communication	The exchange or transmission of ideas, attitudes, or beliefs between individuals or groups.	Miscommunication,Misinformation,Social Communication,Communication Programs,Communications Personnel,Personal Communication,Communication Program,Communication, Personal,Communication, Social,Communications, Social,Miscommunications,Misinformations,Personnel, Communications,Program, Communication,Programs, Communication,Social Communications
D003197	Computer Literacy	Familiarity and comfort in using computers efficiently.	Computer Literacies,Literacies, Computer,Literacy, Computer
D003226	Congresses as Topic	Works about conferences, conventions or formal meetings usually attended by delegates representing a special field of interest.	Conferences,Conference Proceedings as Topic,Conferences and Congresses,Conferences and Proceedings,Congresses and Conferences,Professional Meetings and Conferences,Congresses as Topics,Proceedings and Conferences,Topics, Congresses as