The aims were to identify requirements for occupational health information and to propose improvements to the current UK situation. Only the results relating to occupational health physicians are reported. Structured interviews were used to establish the pattern of information use and to elicit views on information provision. Literature searches were undertaken and organizations visited. Respondents preferred to ask for information. Seventy per cent worked in organizations with libraries. The main methods of keeping up to date were reading journals and attending meetings and courses. Use of abstracting and indexing publications, online services and Prestel was low. Toxicity information presented problems. More effective information handling could be promoted in basic and continuing professional education, by provision of guides to sources of information and by improved alerting services.
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