Exploring the Medication Information Horizon of Medical Doctors at Ahmadu Bello University Medical Centre: A Qualitative Inquiry

This study aimed to explore how medical doctors at Ahmadu Bello University Medical Centre (ABUMC) access and use medication information, with specific objectives to identify the sources they rely on and examine the factors motivating their information-seeking behaviour. Guided by Sonnenwald’s Information Horizons Theory, the study examined how clinicians navigate diverse information environments shaped by credibility, accessibility, and contextual constraints. Using a qualitative research design, in-depth interviews were conducted with purposively selected physicians until data saturation was reached at the tenth interview. Findings show that medical doctors utilize three major categories of medication information sources: print materials such as formularies and peer-reviewed literature; electronic resources including internet searches and digital platforms; and informal sources such as colleagues, pharmacists, and clinical seminars. Their motivations for seeking information are rooted in professional responsibility, ethical obligations to ensure safe prescribing, and a desire for continuous knowledge improvement. Based on these insights, the study recommends establishing a centralized, regularly updated digital medication information repository and institutionalizing structured peer-to-peer knowledge exchange mechanisms to strengthen clinical decision-making and reduce medication errors. Overall, the findings highlight how clinicians adaptively navigate their information horizons within a resource-limited setting to support safe and effective patient care.