The Current State of Information Needs, Sources and Channels Used by the Health Care Providers in Primary Level Health Care, Ethiopia: Ethnographic Study

Introduction: Health care system is information-driven sector where Health Care Providers (HCPs) regularly deliver comprehensive health services based on the available, accessible, and reliable health information. However, there is lack of empirical evidence about the culture of current state of health information needs; sources and channels that used by the health professionals in Primary Level Health Care (PLHC) of Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to explore the health information needs, sources, and channels used by the health professionals in PLHC in Wolaita zone, South Ethiopia based on the information seeking and behavior need model.Material and Methods: Ethnographic study design was employed using participant observation and key informant in-depth interviews as a data collection method. Observation and interviews data were entered on Qualitative Data Analysis mine software version. The quotes and field notes were summarized and linked to the information seeking and behavior need model to generate new meaning.  Results: Consequently, HCPs demonstrated their needs of health promotive and disease preventive health information as compared to health information focusing on early diagnosis and treatment. The major purpose was to answer colleagues and patients’ question. The unpredictability of the health conditions and associated HCPs skepticism was a major precursor for a deliberate search of health information. Although it is pigeonholing HCPs in PLHC settings preferred formal channels of information and resources held in and delivered in digital format using mobile, computer, and Internet as compared to print and human sources.  Furthermore, the absence of library or resource center, shortage of ICT infrastructure, and poor information literacy skill were raised as reasons for unmet health information need in PLHC settings.Conclusion:Thus, this study showed that the need for formal channels of information and suggests the establishment of reading/resource corners/centers and design, development, and implementation of information literacy module for HCPs in PLHC.