How Medical Students Discover and Use Medical Information Tools

Abstract

Many studies have examined how medical faculty and fourth-year medical students use information tools. Few studies have investigated how first, second, and third-year medical students discover and use information tools. In fall 2018, first, second, and third-year medical students received emails describing a study, which included a three-question survey and four interview questions. Of the 525 students, 122 completed the survey and 18 completed interviews. Results showed that clinical students most frequently use UpToDate, but preclinical students use multiple information tools. This report shows librarians can positively influence how preclinical students use information tools during medical school.

KEYWORDS:

• Information discovery
• information use
• medical information tools
• medical students

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Margaret A. Hoogland

Margaret A. Hoogland, MLS, AHIP ([email protected]) is a Clinical Medical Librarian at the Mulford Health Science Library, University of Toledo, 3000 Arlington Ave., Mail Stop 1061, Toledo, OH 43614 USA.