{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.009129967776584319, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0, 'mean_word_length': 5.58303886925795, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Working Together to Meet the Information Needs of Health Care Providers, Program Managers, and Policy Makers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Within the health system policymakers program managers and health care providers require needs-driving and evidence-based information to inform decision making and improve the quality of services delivered. However many international health and development organizations continue to rely on a push model of information dissemination routinely sending information to health care professionals in low- and middle-income countries but failing to fully take into consideration the needs of information consumers in these settings. Over the past decade the world has experienced an information revolution with the exponential growth of information and communication technologies and the surge in Internet and mobile phone users worldwide. These advances have dramatically increased access to health information for many health care professions. However those who live in remote areas work at grassroots level and are most in need of information at the point of care continue to have the least access to these technologies. An adequate assessment of health information needs including opportunities barriers and gaps is necessary for designing effective communication strategies. The articles in this special issue contribute to the evidence base of the information needs of health care professionals working at various levels of the health system. Through an examination of information flow throughout an entire health system the research studies provide concrete findings on the information needs and wants of individual health care professions and document the role of professional networks. The commentary pieces further explore these issues to help design sound programs that improve knowledge management and sharing.