Use of Web-based library resources by medical students in community and ambulatory settings

• Published in: Journal of the Medical Library Association 2002-07, Vol.90 (3), p.305-309
• Main Authors: TANNERY, Nancy Hrinya, FOUST, Jill E, GREGG, Amy L, HARTMAN, Linda M, KULLER, Alice B, WORONA, Paul, TULSKY, Asher A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitude to Computers; Clinical Clerkship; Databases, Bibliographic - utilization; Exact sciences and technology; Female; Humans; Information and communication sciences; Information science. Documentation; Internet; Internet - utilization; Libraries, Medical - utilization; Library and information science. General aspects; Library Services - utilization; Library technology; Male; Medical school libraries; Medicine; Sciences and techniques of general use; Students; Students, Medical - psychology; United States; Use and user studies. Information needs; User surveys; Users; Web sites; World Wide Web
• ISSN: 1536-5050; 1558-9439

The purpose was to evaluate the use of Web-based library resources by third-year medical students. Third-year medical students (147) in a twelve-week multidisciplinary primary care rotation in community and ambulatory settings. Individual user surveys and log file analysis of Website were used. Twenty resource topics were compiled into a Website to provide students with access to electronic library resources from any community-based clerkship location. These resource topics, covering subjects such as hypertension and back pain, linked to curriculum training problems, full-text journal articles, MEDLINE searches, electronic book chapters, and relevant Websites. More than half of the students (69%) accessed the Website on a daily or weekly basis. Over 80% thought the Website was a valuable addition to their clerkship. Web-based information resources can provide curriculum support to students for whom access to the library is difficult and time consuming.