INFORMATION SOURCES AND UTILIZATION PATTERNS OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENTISTS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the adequacy of pharmaceutical scientists' information 
environment in feeding their occupational activities. Data was collected through 
observation and through questionnaire administration to all the twenty-seven 
scientists in two large pharmaceutical companies in Lagos, Nigeria. Findings 
revealed that pharmaceutical scientists carried out their work activities under less 
than optimal information conditions and with out-dated information. Although 
scientists were found to rely a lot on oral sources (colleagues and so on) for 
information, documented sources were identified as being more reliable. A 
recommendation was made to the pharmaceutical companies to improve the 
information resources available for the use of their scientists through the provision 
of functional and effective information centres and through the provision of basic 
skills in information handling.