Knowledge and usage of electronic information resources by medical postgraduate trainees at the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge and use of electronic resources by medical postgraduate trainees at the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo. A survey method was used to collect data from 300 medical postgraduate trainees in 32 medical specialties at Postgraduate Institute of Medicine. Questions covered computer and internet searching skills, electronic information environment, usage pattern of electronic resources, level of satisfaction on existing electronic resources and services and major issues and concerns in accessing electronic resources and services. Out of 300 questionnaires distributed. 263 were duly completed and returned at the response rate of 87.6%. According to the survey all respondents are computer users (100%). Though. 22.2% rated themselves as very good in computer skills, Besides,, 41.4% rated themselves as very good in internet searching skills, while 6.5% rated themselves as excellent in internet searching skills. 55% of the respondents use the Main library of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine for electronic resource access, and 10.3% of them use both Main library of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine and hospital libraries to access electronic resources. General electronic resources and textbooks are equally used by 74.5% of the respondents, whereas 58,7% use subscribed electronic journals. 50% of the respondents suggested to have training programs to improve the information literacy skills. With regard to level of satisfaction on provision of free access to internet at the library of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, 58.2% of them strongly agreed. Further, 43.7% of the respondents satisfied on subscribed electronic resources by the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine. Satisfaction level of awareness on electronic resources was strongly agreed by 35.4% of the respondents. Hence, this study concluded that almost all postgraduate trainees use computers to access electronic resources. Though they use the computers for accessing electronic resources, many of them have inadequate computer and internet searching skills. Library of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine is used by more than 50% of the trainees. General electronic resources are well used followed by textbooks. Training programs were suggested by trainees to improve their information literacy skills. Majority of them are satisfied with the internet access and subscribed electronic resources available at the library of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, Lack of training, lack of time and non-availability of remote access for subscribed electronic resources were mentioned as major issues. It is recommended to organize more training programs and workshops to improve the internet searching skills of medical postgraduate trainees. Electronic textbooks should be purchased to increase the electronic resource usage. The digital section at the Main library of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine should be expanded with more computers. Current awareness on existing electronic resources should be increased by using some alert services. Necessary steps should be taken to provide remote access for electronic resources