The effects of IT on information culture in general medical practice

The 21st century information explosion has placed an increasing expectation on general medical practitioners to know how to access and utilise the latest medical research effectively. This paper discusses how the information environment in the context of clinical decision making in medical practice has been transformed through the use of IT. It discusses how technology is affecting the manner in which medical problem solving is undertaken and thus how it is altering the information culture in General Practice. The changes can be seen in the use of electronic medical records and evidence-based support tools. Whilst this has brought significant benefits for research and patient safety it has also raised security fears and concern over dehumanising the consultation experience for patients. Yet there are also great benefits for medical education and support for rural practices in the use of technology to support clinical practice. However, in an increasingly information driven profession, the problems of information overload and finding reliable information still persist.