Physician-directed information prescription service. A scoping review.

Abstract

This scoping review aims to identify and map the characteristics of research studies, types, delivery methods, and team members of physician-directed information prescription services. Following the PRISMA-ScR checklist, a systematic search was performed on Web of Science, Scopus, Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA), and PubMed/Medline from 1990 to 2021. 37 studies were included in the final analysis. Five types of providing information prescription were recognized: typical, oral, web-based, electronic, and mixed methods. Physicians, nurses, and librarians were the most agreed-upon professionals in information prescription delivery teams. The steps of prescribing information were needs assessment, content production, information evaluation, prescribing information, follow-up, and documentation. This review presents a synthesis of the process of information prescription. It is suggested to determine the effective information prescription type, provide methods and develop the service according to patients' preferences and characteristics. Results of this study can be used to identify the challenges, the competent individuals, roles, and steps of information prescription service, as well as design and develop the protocol, model, and flowchart of it.