Determining Information Literacy Competency of Faculty Members in Using Medical Information Resources

Abstract

Introduction: Information literacy (IL) is a set of abilities requiring individuals to identify when information is needed and have the competency to retrieve, evaluate, and efficiently use the required information. The aim of this study was to recognize to what extent faculty members are able to use the variety of information resources. The study was done in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (Iran) from October to December 2012.Methods: This study used the cross sectional method. The participants of this study were 80 faculty members who referred to the central university library within the first two weeks of October (beginning of school year) for information seeking. All of the participants in the study were selected. Data were gathered through distribution of a standard questionnaire of information literacy. Data were analyzed through SPSS/16 and one-way ANOVA Independent t-test was applied, too.Results: Information literacy competency was classified in three levels: low, moderate, and high. The majority of faculty members had moderate information literacy level and a minority of them had a high information literacy level.Conclusion: Information literacy competency of faculty members was moderate to low. Academia had higher level of retrieving information and evaluating than ethics and rights of information resource and abilities in knowledge. There was a statically significant relationship between ageand level of academia with information literacy level.