An evaluation of the effectiveness of information literacy training for undergraduate midwives to improve their ability to access evidence for practice (original) (raw)
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Iran University of Medical Sciences, 2020
Introduction: Nowadays, regarding to rapid growth of health sciences and the importance of medical information in patient care, it is necessary to provide nurses with up-to-date information for clinical activities. Despite the positive attitude of most nurses to evidence-based practice, one of the major barriers to implementing this process is the lack of information seeking skills. Therefore, the current study focused on determining the impact of using evidence-based databases training on improving search skills in nursing students, assuming that students' search skills would be different before and after the training. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed by designing a single group with pre- and post-tests. The students of four nursing fields were selected from the postgraduate students in September 2019 at Iran University of Medical Sciences. Pre-test and post-test, which included clinical questions, were taken before and after the educational intervention and students emailed their search strategies and the articles retrieved from PubMed and Embase databases to researcher. Then, the search strategies and results were evaluated by means of a researcher-made questionnaire which have 11 questions designed based on the checklist of Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies. Educational intervention was presented for 16 hours over eight two-hour sessions followed by some practical workouts by the students. Sixty percent of the search workouts included clinical questions that required an understanding of the evidence-based levels of medical studies. Results: The mean scores of students' performances after attending classes increased in different areas including keyword selection skill from 2.89 to 8.72, thesaurus use from 0.33 to 6.06, PICO question formulation from 3 to 8.11, using Boolean operators from 3.56 to 9.17, use of parentheses from 1.5 to 6.44, phrase search from 2.33 to 8.11, use of synonyms from 1.06 to 6.72, truncation from 0.07 to 2.06, field search from 1.44 to 5.72, search filters from 0.72 to 6.94, search strategy formulation from 13.78 to 53.28, and the evaluation of the relevance of search results to the posed questions from 28/89 to 86/67. Furthermore, the mean score of the students’ general search skill in evidence-based databases before training was 45/89 out of 200, which improved to 154/72 after training. The difference between the mean scores before and after the educational intervention was statistically significant (P <0.001) Conclusion: Training in the use of databases increases the search skills awareness of nursing students and affects the students' performance in applying these skills. Therefore, in order to implement the evidence-based practice, apart from providing the fundamental infrastructure to access databases in hospital settings, it is recommended to provide training concerning the use of these databases for the nurses and the nursing students with respect to their information needs. Keywords: search skills, nursing students, training, evidence-based databases
Effectiveness of training intervention to improve medical student’s information literacy skills
Korean Journal of Medical Education, 2016
This study aimed to assess the efficiency of delivering a 4-month course of "effective literature search" among medical postgraduate students for improving information literacy skills. This was a cross-sectional study in which 90 postgraduate students were randomly selected and participated in 12 training sessions. Effective search strategies were presented and the students' attitude and competency concerning online search were measured by a pre-and post-questionnaires and skill tests. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16 using t-test. There was a significant improvement (p=0.00), in student's attitude. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) was 2.9 (0.8) before intervention versus the mean (SD) 3.9 (0.7) after intervention. Students' familiarity with medical resources and databases improved significantly. The data showed a significant increase (p=0.03), in students' competency score concerning search strategy design and conducting a search. The mean (SD) was 2.04 (0.7) before intervention versus the mean (SD) 3.07 (0.8) after intervention. Also, students' ability in applying search and meta search engine improved significantly. This study clearly acknowledges that the training intervention provides considerable opportunity to improve medical student's information literacy skills.
Nursing Students’ Experience with Information Literacy Skill
Yangtze Medicine
This study examined the searching skills and extent of usage of electronic databases by Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health Nursing students in the University of Health and Allied Science (UHAS). The focus was on forty (40) level 300 students drawn from a universe of two hundred and forty six (246) of the School of Public Health (SPH). The study used quantitative method approach and the survey instruments were questionnaire, interview and observation. The data collected were analyzed and classified into the following themes: usefulness, extent of use, determinants of use of e-databases, searching skills, and main drawbacks of learning information literacy skills (ILS). Although all the respondents strongly agreed that e-databases are indispensable for academic and professional practice, findings revealed that majority of them have low quality of searching skills and that accounts for the sparse use of the e-databases. This positive association is proven by Pearson's chi square test (0.000). The study also established that students' attitude, academic loads and methodology of teaching were the challenges hindering the acquisition of ILS of students. As a consequence, the study recommends that Academic librarians should intensify their education on e-databases, the development of research guides and encourages stronger collaboration with faculty members in the teaching of ILS so that student nurses would be more adept in searching for information to enhanced scholarship and professional practice.
Health Information and Libraries Journal, 2007
Objectives: To explore library staff and health professionals' views on the effectiveness of information skills training and librarian mediated searching as methods of providing information for patient care. This is the second article describing the Effective Methods of Providing InfoRmation for patIent Care (EMPIRIC) project. The first paper, in a previous issue of this journal (Brettle et al. The costs and effectiveness of information skills training and mediated searching: quantitative results for the EMPIRIC project. Health Information and Libraries Journal 2006, 23, 239-247) describes the quantitative results. Methods: A questionnaire survey to library staff and health professionals in the North West. Data was collected on perceptions of services, satisfaction and service usage. Statistical data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and qualitative data using thematic analysis. Results: Both information skills training and mediated searches are perceived by library staff and health professionals to be effective. There is strong support for mediated searches carried out on behalf of the health professional and information skills training to enable them to carry out their own searches. The results provide insights into the effectiveness of the services and the factors that make them effective. Conclusions: Evidence and stakeholders views support the provision of both information skills training and mediated search services. Both services are valued by users who see them as complementary methods of obtaining information depending on their needs at different times.
Are Medical Students Information Literate? investigation of skills through a cross sectional survey
Journal Article , 2021
Introduction: Information literacy (IL) has great importance for medical students to make them capable of organizing and using critically accurate information from reliable sources. As the medical profession demands critical and lifelong learners due to its serious and sensitive nature, this study aims to examine the IL skills of undergraduate MBBS students of Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex (SZMC), Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: A contextual structured questionnaire, based on IL standards of Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) for higher education, was adapted to collect data. From total population of 466 enrolled students, through convenient sampling, 211 medical students enrolled in five years of MBBS program were approached for this purpose. Results: Findings revealed that majority of the respondents were found capable of determining the nature and extent of required information, were able to analyze and evaluate information and its sources alongside the understanding with ethical and legal use and communication of information produced. However, it was found that respondents scored low in the abilities of using ICTs, locating digital information by formulating advance queries, using reference management tools and information creation and presentation. Implication: The results highlight the importance of information literacy for medical profession, the current medical education curriculum and syllabi should be revised and integrated with advance IL instructions to produce future medical professionals as lifelong learners. The findings also pointed out extensive role of medical library professionals, faculty and medical universities to develop updated and targeted IL instruction programs and training sessions.
Rationale and background Access to information for teaching and learning has reached unprecedented levels due to the explosion of the Internet. Within healthcare, information can be accessed via a range of sources including electronic databases via the World Wide Web (WWW). Students need to access this information to complete coursework, undertake research and once qualified within the context of evidence based practice. Although students may have experience of using IT and web technology they are rarely taught information skills. This can result in information being found via chance (Hall and Dalgleish, 1999), the possibility of missing important information, and frustration in using technology that should make information retrieval easier. However with appropriate training, students can efficiently conduct thorough and systematic literature searches essential for robust and quality work. It is therefore necessary that information skills be taught to students within the Faculty of Health and Social Care. The Teaching & Learning Quality Improvement Scheme (TLQIS) awarded a grant to staff at the Health Care Practice Research and Development Unit (HCPRDU), University of Salford to develop an innovative training course to provide students within the Faculty of Health and Social Care with literature searching skills. The sessions were originally planned as part of the evidence based health module of the MRes in Health and Social Care. The delayed start date of the MRes led to agreement being sought from the Teaching and Learning Sub Committee to pilot the training course on a group of healthcare practitioners undertaking the HCPRDU 'Doing Evaluations of Practice' programme (HCPRDU, 2002). A report of the pilot evaluation was submitted to the Committee in December 2001 (Grant et al, 2001).
Using the internet: easier said than done. Information literacy in the library
Since 1993, the CRO library has organized training courses on the use of information resources for the institute staff. However, recently the need to revise the proposals for meeting the educational needs of the scientific and clinical staff has arisen. A practical approach was adopted: planning short weekly lessons focused on practical learning of a single instrument at a time. The course structure included a minimum number of lessons whose attendance was compulsory to be chosen on the basis of individual professional interests of learners. With this approach, all instruments were compared and contextualized within a precise wider documentary search methodology. From the evaluation forms and "narrative" feedback, it has emerged that both courses were perceived as "relevant" for increasing attendants' professional skills and had a positive impact on their professional practice.
Health Information and Libraries Journal, 2006
Objectives : To compare the effectiveness and costs of providing information for patient care via librarian-mediated searches and information-skills training. Methods : A questionnaire survey to library staff and health professionals in the North West. Data was collected on perceptions of services, satisfaction and service usage, allowing a cost analysis to be undertaken. Statistical data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences ( ). Results : Using satisfaction and use of skills as outcome measures, both mediated searches and information skills training are effective. A breakdown of costs per type of training session and literature search is provided. Cost-effectiveness is dependent on whether costs are viewed from a library or trust point of view. Providing information skills training does not reduce the volume of mediatedsearch requests. Conclusions : No one method of providing information for health professionals is more effective or cost-effective than another. A decision about which services to provide cannot be made on the basis of effectiveness or costs alone; the views of library staff and the health professionals they serve should also be taken into account. A proactive approach and targeting training towards those who are most likely to benefit may be an appropriate way forward.