INFORMATION NEEDS OF RURAL HEALTH-CARE PRACTITIONERS IN HAWAII

Rural health care workers need a wide range of specialized information but have difficulties locating and accessing information resources. T he information needs of Hawaii's rural health care practitioners and t heir methods of accessing information were studied through interviews and mailed questionnaires. The following barriers to information acces s were identified: lack of funds, inadequate hardware, infrastructure problems, and insufficient knowledge about information sources and how to use them. Although many (85%) reported having computers, only a mi nority (30%) have modems, and even fewer use online resources or the f ree electronic databases at public and university libraries. Most repo rted that journal articles were the information source that best met t heir needs and that personal files or a colleague's collection were th e most common places for accessing needed materials. Recommendations f or solving some of the information problems include development of a S tate of Hawaii rural health information clearinghouse; better identifi cation, training, and use of available services; and, most importantly , the establishment of rural health care information agents (modeled o n agriculture extension agents) on each major island.