Informed and Healthy - Theoretical and Applied Perspectives on the Value of Information to Health Care

Informed and Healthy: Theoretical and Applied Perspectives on the Value of Information to Health Care focuses on two major issues: the value attributed to information by users and its effect on health care; and, a new model of information behavior in which the value of information drives various information activities (unlike many information models which tend to give prominence to information needs). The inductive development of the model is explained, with associated implications for theory and transferability or applicability elsewhere.
The book uses a case study of the health information system in Uganda and expands the analysis by comparing it to other systems utilized by different countries in diverse levels of development. Topics such as access and use of information; value attribution and effect on health outcomes; and modelling information behavior and its implications on health informatics are discussed in detail. This book is a valuable resource for health professionals, planners, and policy makers, as well as researchers interested in health information systems and their applicability in different environments.

• Provides a new model of information behaviour that emerges inductively from qualitative data
• Focuses on value of information rather than information needs
• Explains in detail the methodological approach used to value attribution
• Serves as a valuable resource for health professionals, planners, and policy makers, as well as researchers interested in health information systems and their applicability in different environments

Maria Musoke is PhD in Information Science, University of Sheffield, UK
Professor of Information Science at the School of Library and Information Science, Makerere University, Uganda
• 1st Ugandan woman to become a Professor of and hold a PhD in Information Science
• PhD led to revision of the 'Slawson and Shaugnessy formula” (reported in BMJ 2002;325:983 - formula is a 'usefulness equation” for medical information)
• Initiated at Makerere University 1) 'Information competence and management' course for graduate students and researchers, 2) 'Health information systems and services' course for MSc-LIS students, 3) information literacy outreach program to rural health units
• Has conducted research, published 20+ papers, presented at many conferences, and received various awards. For example:
- Nov 2014-Aug 2015 - Elsevier Foundation/Innovative Libraries in Developing Countries Program funded $45k to her research sabbatical at the University of Sheffield
- Keynote speaker at Partnerships in Health Information 20th Anniversary in London (2012) and Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa conference in Malawi (2004) and Tanzania (2014)
- 2015 - Swedish International Development Agency awarded her for exemplary leadership and management of the Makerere University Library project under the Makerere - Sida Collaborative Research Programme for ten years (2004-2014)
- 2010 - Gender Equality Award, Makerere University
- 2001 - ICT stories Award winner based on submission of 'Simple ICTs reduce maternal mortality in rural Uganda”