Factors Associated with Clinical Information Overload and Its Management Strategies: A Mixed-Methods Study in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Clinical information overload is a multidimensional phenomenon that adversely affects the quality of clinical decision-making and patient safety. This study aimed to explore the contributing factors and to identify management strategies for this phenomenon from the perspectives of clinical specialists at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: This study employed a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design conducted in two phases. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 clinical specialists, and the data were analyzed using inductive content analysis. In the quantitative phase, a questionnaire developed based on the qualitative findings was distributed among 100 specialists, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results: Data analysis led to the identification of seven main categories of contributing factors, including managerial–organizational factors (ranked as the highest priority), educational, informational, technological, documentation-related, individual, and task-related factors. Among the novel findings was the identification of documentation-related and educational factors as independent determinants of clinical information overload. Overall, 107 management strategies were proposed across seven domains. Key strategies included the utilization of health information professionals, implementation of an integrated electronic health record system, and the design of user-friendly information systems.
Conclusion: Effective management of clinical information overload requires a systematic and integrated approach at multiple levels. The proposed conceptual model may serve as a suitable framework for policymaking, information system design, and educational planning aimed at improving the quality of healthcare delivery.