Hi,

I'm hoping that you can assist me with the task outlined below.

I have been asked to  do a national scan of the current and anticipated demand for health information and preferred modes of access for consumers and health intermediaries (e.g., policy makers, educators, researchers, programmers, media, deliverers of health care).   I am doing this for the Demand and Access working group working on a project called National Health Population Clearinghouse (working title) for Health Canada.  Demand and access is a small piece of a much bigger project looking at providing credible, timely and accessible health information to Canadians. 

I*m hoping that you can help me by taking a few minutes to provide me with your  observations and thoughts on access and demand for health information by completing the following  questionnaire or relevant parts of it.  Of course, the time line is very tight.   I need to have my scan into the consultant group by October 22.  If any of you would like to discuss the scan further, please call me at 902-368-6527.  Please return replies to my address *[log in to unmask]* and not to the list serve.  These are fairly general questions so please add as much detail as you would like.   Thank you in advance.


1.      Please indicate the organization/institution you work with.

2.      Please identify which sector you represent:

        __ Government
        __ Private
        __ University
        __ Voluntary Organization
        __ Partnership (please specify)
        __ Other (please specify)

3.  How do health intermediaries currently access health information (e.g., telephone,  Internet, CD ROM, written material, etc.)?   In your opinion, which are the preferred modes of access?

4. In your opinion, are existing modes of access adequate for health intermediaries?  Why or why not?  

5. What changes do you anticipate taking place in the next 3-5 years with respect to access to health information for health intermediaries (e.g., what modes of access will they use or want to use to obtain health information)? 

6.  How do consumers currently access health information (e.g., person to person, telephone,  Internet, CD ROM, written material, television, etc.)?   In your opinion, which are the preferred modes of access?

7. In your opinion, are existing modes of access adequate for consumers?    Why or why not?

8. What changes do you anticipate taking place in the next 3-5 years re access to  health information for consumers (e.g., what modes of access will they use or want to use to obtain health information)? 

9.  Where do health intermediaries currently go to obtain health information (e.g., libraries, health professionals, health information centres, etc.)? 	

10. Do you think these sources meet health intermediaries* need?  Why or why not?

11. Where do you think health intermediaries will want to go to get information in the future (e.g., next 3-5 years)?
	
12.  Where do consumers currently go to obtain health information (e.g., libraries, health professionals, health information centres, information kiosks, etc.)?	

13. Do you think these sources meet consumers* need? Why or why not?
 
14. Where do you think consumers will want to go to get information in the future (e.g., next 3-5 years)?

15.  Do you anticipate the demand for health information by health intermediaries and consumers to remain the same, increase or decrease in the future?  Why?


Thanks again,

Deborah Bradley
Health Information Resource Centre
1 Rochford  Street, PO Box 2000
Charlottetown, PEI
C1A 7N8
902-368-6527 (p)
902-368-6524 (f)