A study of information flow in the research centers affiliated to the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education

This study aims to identify the status of the input, processing and output of information flow in the research centers affiliated to the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education and recognize the influencing factors and technical obstacles which make significant decrease in information flow.
The research is an applied research and survey method was used. The population consisted of research assistants, managers of affiliated research centers, heads of academic library administrators and faculty members in 62 research centers affiliated to the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education. The data collection tool was a questionnaire. After confirming its validity and reliability, 306 questionnaires were distributed between researchers. Finally, 222 (72/55%) of the questionnaires were returned.
Findings: The overall status of information flow in the research centers, in the "collection and use" stage was appropriate and in the "production and storage", and the "dissemination" stages were inappropriate. In the "collection and use" stage, electronic forms were used more than printed formats and in the "production and storage" and the "dissemination" stages, printed forms were used more than electronic forms.
The results of the study may be helpful to the managers of research centers in planning to improve the national and international information flow, use of information, skilled manpower and funds to support research.