Information searching in health care: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences Education
• Information Literacy
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Integrating formal library skills instruction into health science curricula presents ongoing challenges for educators.
• Developing effective methods for teaching literature retrieval and critical appraisal is crucial for healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a library skills workshop for physical therapy and occupational therapy students.
• To assess the impact of the workshop on students' ability to perform literature searches and critical appraisals.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design was employed with 33 Bachelor of Health Science students.
• An experimental group attended a two-session workshop with a workbook; a control group did not.
• A Library Skills Questionnaire measured cognitive and psychomotor skills pre- and post-workshop.

Main Results:

• Students who attended both workshop sessions and control group students were compared to 'drop-outs' (attended only one session).
• Drop-outs achieved statistically significant higher post-test knowledge scores (p < 0.05) than both other groups.
• This suggests that students who self-selected for the workshop but did not complete it may possess stronger self-directed learning skills.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights potential differences in learning engagement and outcomes within a structured workshop setting.
• Self-directed learning may be a significant factor influencing knowledge acquisition in health science students.
• Further research is needed to explore optimal pedagogical approaches for diverse learning styles in health sciences.