Consequences of ineffective information and knowledge management (IKM) in hospitals: junior doctors’ perspectives

Information and knowledge represent important organisational assets. In healthcare environments, patient wellbeing depends on effective management of these assets. This paper describes junior doctors’ perspectives of adverse consequences of ineffective information and knowledge management (IKM) practices. The research for this phenomenological study consisted of semi-structured interviews with ten junior doctors in public hospitals in Adelaide, South Australia. The reasons for ineffective IKM include limited access to information, inadequate clinical handover, inappropriate use of information systems, and incomplete documentation. Adverse medical events resulting from ineffective IKM practices include medication errors, delays in patient care or discharge, poor post-discharge care, confidentiality breaches, acting against patient wishes, disability or even death. Junior doctors regard health information systems and access to electronic patient medical records as important for improving IKM. Behaviour of staff often results in ineffective IKM and the paper suggests that an IKM-focused culture should be driven by hospital management.