PRACTICE-KNOWLEDGE-ATTITUDES-PRACTICE - AN EXPLORATIVE STUDY OF INFORMATION IN PRIMARY-CARE

Contemporary information programmes for health staff fail to give thor ough consideration to the influence of situational factors on informat ion transfer within health institutions. To study information transfer in Swedish primary care health centres, we have therefore used the pa rticipant observation method, to explore the influences of practice on knowledge and attitude formation, in turn giving rise to new practice . Management of hyperlipidaemia was used as an example. Our study sugg ests that the practice generates new information, which is added to or counteracts the acquisition and use of already existing information a nd is subsequently used in practice. Ongoing discussions between staff members give an opportunity to share practice experiences. Profession , professional hierarchy and gender are some of the factors influencin g the use of information in this context. To improve the effectiveness of information programmes these factors and the professional roles of the health staff should be taken into consideration. (C) 1997 Elsevie r Science Ltd.