Usage of Library for Accessing Clinical Information by the Students of Health Science Universities in Karnataka

Abstract

Medicine aims at promoting ‘Health for all’ and to produce ‘Physicians of first contact’ which depends on quality medical education and the outcome of which is to deliver quality of health care. Health Science University libraries took various enhancements with the use of innovative information delivery methods while providing clinical information resources and services. The study aims to investigate the attitude towards the use of library for accessing clinical information needs by the medical students from 10 Health Science Universities/Deemed Universities located across Karnataka, Survey method was adopted and questionnaires method was used as a data collection tool. A total of 1000 questionnaires were distributed to students and 782 medical students were ultimately returned giving a 78.20% response rate. The result of the study reflect on usage of library, purpose of use resources, using web-resources for clinical information needs, difficulties in obtaining required information and problems faced while accessing the clinical information resources in the library have been discussed.