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Objective: A review, focusing on emotion, was conducted of reported studies on the information behaviour of healthcare professionals (2004–2008). Findings were intended to offer guidelines on information services and information literacy training, to note gaps in research and to raise research interest. Method: Databases were searched for literature published from January 2004 to December 2008 and indexed oneric, Library and Information Science Abstracts,medline, PsycINFO, Social Services Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition; Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts; Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection; Social Work Abstracts; SocINDEX with Full Text; SPORTDiscus;cinhal; and the ISI Web of Knowledge databases. Key journals were manually scanned and citations followed. Literature was included if reporting on issues concerning emotion. Results: Emotion in information behaviour in healthcare contexts is scantily addressed. This review, however, offers some insight into the difficulty in identifying and expressing information needs; sense making and the need to fill knowledge gaps; uncertainty; personality and coping skills; motivation to seeking information; emotional experiences during information seeking; self-confidence and attitude; emotional factors in the selection of information channels; and seeking information for psychological or emotional reasons. Conclusion: Suggestions following findings, address information literacy programs, information services and research gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Library and Information Science professionals can proactively facilitate successful disintermediation to specific user groups such as oncology nurses. By drawing on their skills as intermediaries they can empower oncology nurses to set up their own current awareness services (CAS) available via the World Wide Web (WWW). Such services include table of content services, electronic newsletters, book-alerting services, conference announcements, WWW discussion groups, Web pages with newsworthy content and article alerting or selective dissemination of information services. A few examples of each are included. A cursory glance at the literature of oncology nursing can point out potential interest in current awareness services, which can be used as bases to collect information on more specific information needs for specific groups (e.g. through focus group interviews). To be successful at facilitating disintermediation, Library and Information Science professionals should approach disintermediation as an exciting opportunity to open new niches for themselves. They should be prepared to move beyond information literacy courses and empower oncology nurses to use current awareness services in addition to their needs for retrospective searches and factual information. This article takes a theoretical look at facilitating disintermediation. Drawing on their substantial experience of intermediation Library and Information Science professionals should consider the following: linking potential information needs and perceived information needs to the benefits that can be expected from current awareness services, the need to verify information and computer skills as well as prior knowledge and perceptions concerning the value of information as well as the information infrastructure for oncology nurses. They should also consider findings from Web information-seeking studies (e.g. the impact of the task environment, motivation and experiences of anxiety), and possible frustrations oncology nurses might experience with WWW current awareness services. They should take up the challenge to explore solutions to these frustrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]