2009: HKN studies inequalities in access

---

In 2007, HKN begins a joint environmental scan with SEARCH Custom and IRREN (Inter-Regional Research and Evaluation Network) to investigate the differences in access to health information resources in Alberta, particularly between its five rural and two urban health regions. Their scan includes a survey to determine the inequalities between the regions and to discover what library resources are available.

The researchers find inequalities in access to licensed print and electronic health information resources and to trained information professionals. Rural health regions were found to be lacking in many of these key resources and there were disparities even between the rural regions. Urban health regions were found to have access, in some cases in abundance.

The results of the environmental scan are published in 2009 in Healthcare Quarterly, and health care administrators and policy makers make use of the findings to support health information access in Alberta.