Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Background:
The Information Millennium unfolds loads of information in a lightning speed and leads to a knowledge-based society. Managing loads of information and applying cognitive skills to choose information that best-fit the needs become a difficult task. This paper focuses on studying how the Ophthalmologists – Eye Doctors evaluate the information.
Methodology:
The study design is cross-sectional and convenience sampling method is adopted. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. SPSS 18 PASW Statistical package was used for statistical analysis. Frequencies, percentages, Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Factor Analysis, Wilcoxon signed rank test were used in the study.
Findings:
Around 633 ophthalmologists working in 47 academic eye hospitals from 16 states of India were included in the study. The study results revealed that the majority of the ophthalmologists check how the information is relevant to research. The statistical test results showed up that the ophthalmologists’ evaluation preference differs by age group, designation, and experience. The two major factors of ophthalmologists’ information evaluation behavior were identified as accuracy and reasonability, credibility and support. The accuracy and reasonability evaluation factor was significantly higher than the credibility and support factor.
Conclusion:
Information evaluation is a significant part in the higher order thinking. So the ophthalmic librarians and ophthalmic institutions should provide information literacy programs for ophthalmologists to improve their information evaluation skills.