PSRML staff have embarked on a focus group project in an effort to understand the roles that medical libraries and the RML can play in helping health professionals gain access to and use the Internet and other information technologies. The knowledge gained from this effort will assist in the creation of new training programs and services, by understanding the barriers to access, and the attitudes and perceptions that health professionals within the Pacific Southwest region have towards these technolo gies.
Our initial focus is to understand the use of the Internet by public health personnel. To do this, the health professionals are divided into two categories: Internet users and non-Internet users. Internet users are defined as individuals who are cu rrently using the Internet and are reasonably comfortable with their Internet skills. Non-Internet users are defined as individuals who do not currently use the Internet and are not familiar with how to use the Internet. Separate 90 minute focus group s essions are conducted for each category of health professionals. Carefully prepared, open-ended questions plus follow up questions are asked within the 90 minutes. The only characteristics that the participants have in common with each other is their lev el of experience using the Internet and the fact that they are all health professionals. Each session is recorded on tape and by a note taker, moderated by a librarian and overseen by the PSRML. After the session, the tapes are reviewed, major themes, i ssues or concerns are identified, and reports are generated. Information gathered will help us develop new services and programs.
The first focus group sessions took place this past August at the Hawaii Medical Library in Honolulu. Two focus groups were conducted with public health professionals recruited by Ginny Tanji, Public Health Librarian at the University of Hawaii's Sch ool of Public Health. The Internet users session included seven participants from various academic, public and private agencies. The non-Internet users session included five participants also from different agencies. Other sessions are planned. Look f or an analysis of this focus group project in a future issue of Latitudes.