Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
4-7-2021
Abstract
Abstract
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 life-long 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.