Romanov K, Aarnio M. A survey of the use of electronic scientific information resources among medical and dental students.
BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 2006;
6:28. [PMID:
16684347 PMCID:
PMC1479814 DOI:
10.1186/1472-6920-6-28]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2005] [Accepted: 05/09/2006] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
To evaluate medical and dental students' utilization of electronic information resources.
METHODS
A web survey sent to 837 students (49.9% responded).
RESULTS
Twenty-four per cent of medical students and nineteen per cent of dental students searched MEDLINE 2+ times/month for study purposes, and thiry-two per cent and twenty-four per cent respectively for research. Full-text articles were used 2+ times/month by thirty-three per cent of medical and ten per cent of dental students. Twelve per cent of respondents never utilized either MEDLINE or full-text articles. In multivariate models, the information-searching skills among students were significantly associated with use of MEDLINE and full-text articles.
CONCLUSION
Use of electronic resources differs among students. Forty percent were non-users of full-text articles. Information-searching skills are correlated with the use of electronic resources, but the level of basic PC skills plays not a major role in using these resources. The student data shows that adequate training in information-searching skills will increase the use of electronic information resources.
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