Nonurban healthcare professionals require efficient access to biomedical literature.
Microcomputer-based searching of databases like MEDLINE is crucial for evidence-based practice.
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) supports initiatives to improve information access in underserved areas.
Purpose of the Study:
To assess the effectiveness of a training program designed to teach nonurban health professionals how to search NLM's MEDLINE database using microcomputers.
To evaluate participant satisfaction with the training methods and materials.
To gather data for future analysis on search behavior and challenges.
Main Methods:
A two-year training program was conducted by the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Library.
The program involved lectures, online demonstrations, and hands-on practice sessions.
Participant data included profession, specialty, prior microcomputer experience, and hospital size.
Main Results:
On-site evaluations revealed high participant satisfaction with trainer communication, preparation, content delivery, and visual aids.
The training program successfully broadened its scope from physicians to include other health professionals.
Data collection was completed for 334 seminar participants.
Conclusions:
The training program demonstrated initial success in engaging nonurban health professionals in MEDLINE searching.
High satisfaction suggests the program's potential for improving access to biomedical information in nonurban settings.
Further analysis of follow-up data is needed to determine long-term impact and identify persistent challenges.