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

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Laila Shahrzadi 1
Ali Mansouri 2
Mosa Alavi 3
Ahmad Shabani 4
1 Assistant Professor Medical Library and Information Science, Health Information Technology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Knowledge and Information Science, Department of Knowledge and Information Science; University of Isfahan; Isfahan, Iran
3 Professor, faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of medical sciences, Isfahan,
4 Professor, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
10.48305/him.2026.46103.1384
Abstract
Introduction: Clinical information overload affects the quality of decision-making and patient safety. This study aimed to identify the associated factors and management strategies for this phenomenon from the perspective of specialists at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2024.
Methods: This study employed a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design conducted in two qualitative and quantitative phases. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 Clinical Practitioners, and the data were analyzed using inductive content analysis in MAXQDA software. In the quantitative phase, a 26-item questionnaire with a Likert scale was designed, and its validity and reliability were confirmed (Cronbach's alpha = 0.895) and distributed among 100 Clinical Practitioners. Data from 77 completed questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS. The conceptual model was designed based on the Tushman and Nadler framework.
Results: Data analysis led to the identification of 100 initial codes and 7 main categories including managerial-organizational (mean = 4.269), educational (3.823), informational (3.714), technological (3.801), documentation (3.792), individual (3.510), and task-related (3.389) factors. Overall, 107 strategies were proposed in 7 domains, with the key strategies including utilization of health information professionals, implementation of an integrated electronic health record system, and design of user-friendly systems.
Conclusion: Effective management of clinical information overload requires a systematic and integrated approach. The conceptual model based on the balance between information processing capacity and needs can serve as a framework for policymaking and information system design, although its practical validation requires future studies.
Keywords
Clinical information overload
clinical specialists
information management strategies
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Subjects
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