This study examined the searching skills and extent of usage of electronic databases by Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health Nursing students in the University of Health and Allied Science (UHAS). The focus was on forty (40) level 300 students drawn from a universe of two hundred and forty six (246) of the School of Public Health (SPH). The study used quantitative method approach and the survey instruments were questionnaire, interview and observation. The data collected were analyzed and classified into the following themes: usefulness, extent of use, determinants of use of e-databases, searching skills, and main drawbacks of learning information literacy skills (ILS). Although all the respondents strongly agreed that e-databases are indispensable for academic and professional practice, findings revealed that majority of them have low quality of searching skills and that accounts for the sparse use of the e-databases. This positive association is proven by Pearson’s chi square test (0.000). The study also established that students’ attitude, academic loads and methodology of teaching were the challenges hindering the acquisition of ILS of students. As a consequence, the study recommends that Academic librarians should intensify their education on e-databases, the development of research guides and encourages stronger collaboration with faculty members in the teaching of ILS so that student nurses would be more adept in searching for information to enhanced scholarship and professional practice.
Universities prepare students for professional careers. This enables individuals to participate with greater understanding of issues that affect region, community and their chosen fields. The 21st century has brought tremendous changes in higher education globally as a consequence of new information and technical developments. According to [
As a result of these demands, universities are undergoing major changes globally in relation to information literacy (IL). Key among the structures is electronic database. Huge cost is sunk in the e-resources to satisfy the teaching, learning and research needs of its faculty and students. To compensate the effort of the university and the funding agents, students are expected to optimally appreciate and use the e-resources for the benefit of all. However, there is widespread concern about lack of searching and evaluation skills, particularly among students; this is evident in the literature [
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Although there are copious insights into students ILS learning approach and other educational factors that enhances skill mastery [
This study attempted to contribute to the knowledge base by examining the ILS of students and its effect on utilization of e-databases, factors that influence the use of school subscribed e-databases and challenges encountered in learning ILS. Further research is expected to validate the association between ILS and increase evidence-base practice in the field of work [
The purpose of this study is to investigate the ILS and its effect on utilization of e-databases, identify challenges and prospects the institution is facing with the e-resource funding for policy direction. Further research is expected to validate the association between information literacy skills and increase evidence base practice in the field of work.
In an information society, where access to information and critical evaluation of that information is central to economic and personal well-being, ILS are as essential as basic reading and writing. The value thus attached to ILS in relation to formal education cannot be overemphasized. This culminated in the huge investment made by the institution in the area of ICT in order to harness its benefit for the general development of all [
Sampling several nursing courses, assignments and exams, it revealed that students are limited in ideas and arguments, in-text citations, referencing and poor evaluation skills just to mention a few. It is possible that students are not taken advantage of the library databases and other materials that their lecturers recommend for further reading. Evidence are abound that sophisticated information literacy skills are beneficial to academic success, therefore it suffice to say that students are generally not doing what is expected of them to achieve the desired goal. This phenomenon is worrying and had consequently engaged the lecturers and school authorities for a swift and lasting solution. Also, the library staff had made an observation regarding the use of library e-materials particularly the subscribed e-databases. It revealed that the library patrons who visited library seldom use the e-databases and the few who use it often sought the assistance of the library staff in order to accomplish a task. This was confirmed in a study [
Accessing information by Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health Nursing students of the University of Health and Allied Sciences will be of interest to a large number of institutions that are unaware of the students searching skills and the extent of utilization of the subscribed e-databases the schools have invested in for the promotion of scholarship and research work. Although this study concentrates on few students for reasons of economy and time, it will be useful to a wide range of situations particularly where factors are similar to the studied institution.
Notwithstanding the contribution to new knowledge, policy decisions regarding investments in the area of IL programmes and activities that could accelerate the achievement of a desired outcome shall be taken by the school authorities. Whereas findings will help academic librarians and faculty members in redesigning and developing IL instructions that are compelling, students will also renew their interest in ILS acquisition for academic and professional development.
Given the importance of e-databases as a valuable basis of information to teaching and learning as well as research, the main purpose of this study was to assess students of SONAM’s ILS and utilization of e-databases of UHAS Library. As a complement of the main issues investigated, challenges of navigation or access to e-databases are also matters of concern. The following are the specific objectives of the study.
・ To examine whether students use the school subscribed e-databases.
・ To determine the level of searching skills of students.
・ To examine factors that influence the use of school subscribed e-databases.
・ To examine the challenges encountered in learning ILS.
The study attempted to answer the following research questions:
・ Do you use the school subscribed e-databases?
・ What levels of searching skills have you?
・ What are the factors that influence the use of the school subscribed e-data- bases?
・ What are the challenges encountered in learning ILS?
The scope of study is not only narrowed to a single university in Ghana but to one school of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM) of UHAS. It also examined only level 300 students who were assumed to be of the same age bracket. Higher levels of students (e.g. level 400, and graduate students) are likely to have altered the results of the study. This is corroborated by [
Positivist approach is the research philosophy adopted for this study. This scientific approach allows the use of quantitative data to answer research questions. [
Findings from the fieldwork realized from the solicited views of respondents to appropriately address the hypothesis (research question) are discussed below. Analysis of data and the results were presented in tables and charts using frequencies and percentages. The results of the analysis are grouped under the following sub-headings:
・ Usefulness of e-databases.
・ Determinants of use of subscribed e-databases.
・ Searching skills versus use of subscribed databases.
・ Main drawbacks of learning ILS.
In addition to the analyses are some considerations in the literature.
The first and the second objectives of the study sought to examine the level of searching skills of respondents and its impacts on the use of s-e-databases. It was however found from the study that 4 and 5 of the respondents have very high and high skills respectively use at least 2 times a day of the s-e-databases. Of the 13 respondents with high skills, 7 of them representing 54% use the e-databases for at most 2 times a day. Only 1 respondent representing 7% who had high searching skills accesses subscribed e-db once a week. Whereas, none of the respondents with low searching skills access e-db for at least 2 times a day 4 of them do access it for at most 2 times a day and 11 of them representing 73% do so for only once a week. From
Opinion | Frequency | Percent |
---|---|---|
Strongly agree | 40 | 100 |
Source: field data, 2016.
representing 22.5%, 11 out of 40 respondents representing 27.5% and 20 out 40 respondents representing 50% use subscribed e-db for at least 2 times, at most 2 times and once a week respectively. The findings clearly shows that majority of respondents (19 out 20 have low and very low searching skills) this means they do not use subscribed data as expected.
Statistically, there is strong association between the above variables (searching skills of respondents and degree of use of subscribed e-db). Chi-Square Tests which measure the degree of relationship between variables indicated a positive significance with Pearson (significance value of 0.000) with an internal consistency and reliability of Cronbach Alpha of 0.890. It follows that a change in one variable has a corresponding effects on the other. In this case however, there is a direct effect on usage of subscribed e-db given the searching skills of a respondent. This is seen in
The cross-tabulation of searching skills by extent of use of subscribed e-databases yields the following joint frequency which is shown in
In relation to the determinants of usage of subscribed e-db, opinion of respondents were collected and organized in
Chi-Square Tests | |||
---|---|---|---|
Pearson Chi-Square | Value 36.197 | df 6 | Asymptotic Significance (2-sided) 0.000 |
Result of
Searching skills | Extent of use of subscribed e-databases | Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
At least 2 times a day | At least 2 times a day | Once a week | ||
Very high | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
High | 5 | 7 | 1 | 13 |
Low | 0 | 4 | 11 | 15 |
Very low | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
Total | 9 | 11 | 20 | 40 |
Source: field data, 2016.
Opinion | Frequency | Percent |
---|---|---|
Ease and speed of access | 20 | 50 |
Good searching skills | 17 | 42 |
Unlimited access to the databases | 3 | 8 |
Total | 40 | 100 |
Source: field data, 2016.
Opinion | Frequency | Percent |
---|---|---|
Methodology of teaching | 13 | 32 |
Other academic load | 12 | 30 |
Students attitude | 15 | 38 |
Total | 40 | 100 |
Source: field data, 2016.
representing 50% alluded that ease and speed of access influences the use of subscribed e-db while good searching skills follows with 17 respondents representing 43%. The last category has the lowest number of respondents with a percentage of 7.
The summary, conclusions and recommendations from the study are organized in two (2) parts. Whereas the first part is the summary of findings that has implications on the objectives of the study the second part covers the conclusions drawn from the study and recommendations made from the study for further research.
Summary of the Key FindingsSummary of findings of the study are stated under the following sub-headings: Usefulness of e-databases, Extent of use of e-databases, Searching skills, Factors that influence use of e-databases and Main drawbacks of learning ILS.
Of the four (4) categories of responses on the usefulness of e-databases, strongly agree had prominence. All the 40 respondents representing 100 per cent said e-databases are indispensable as far as academic and professional practice is concerned. This popular claim by respondents justifies the investment made by the institution in the area of information literacy skill acquisition and e-library structures. With regards to the extent of use of e-databases, those with low skills do not use the e-databases as often as expected. Even though they acknowledge the importance of it, as much as access requires some amount of skills which was absent, motivation for usage will inevitably be low. Majority of the respondents (23) of them representing 58% have low searching skills. However, 20 respondents representing 50% use the databases once a week. Knowing how indispensable e-databases is for academic work, student with low searching skills will most often depend on their study mates who are skillful for sharing or else, they will rely on the library staff for their information need. As to the factors influencing the use of e-db, ease and speed of access had the highest number of response (20) representing 50%. Good searching skills had 17 responses representing 43%. Ease and speed of access as well as good searching skills are notably the most influential factors. The reason is that, most students have low tolerance for hitches and delay in accessing information. Unlimited access to the e-databases has the lowest number of response because respondents are aware of the limitless access to information for as long as one has high searching skills.
In relation to major drawbacks of learning ILS, students’ attitude tops with 15 respondents. Between methodology of teaching and academic loads is a difference of 1 respondent. Given the percentages of the responses of the categories one could infer that all the drawbacks are critical for ILS learning.
ILS promotion among the students is critical in order to address the sparse usage of e-databases. Undoubtedly, ILS is a prerequisite to evidence-based medical practice which has the potential to bring cost of healthcare delivery in the country down. [
Given the importance of ILS acquisition, it will be in the interest of the school to make the teaching and learning of ILS more compelling, friendly and ambitious by offering more practical instructions to students with a focus on one-on-one information searching guide. Also, Academic Librarians and their staffs should intensify their education on the importance and use of databases to students. Information professionals of the institution must be creative, flexible and professional in their delivery. There must also be a strong collaboration between academic librarians and Faculty members regarding planning of the syllabus and time-table. Expansion of the internet bandwidth is a critical consideration and should not be compromised as far as teaching of ILS and usage of e-database is concerned. If students have ease and speed of access, it will motivate them to use subscribed e-databases frequently hence promote scholarship and research.
This study was limited to Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health Nursing SONAM of UHAS. The theme can be extended to other schools in Ghana. The research can also be conducted on a large scale with large sample size considering more relevant variables to the topic.
Osman, H. (2017) Nursing Students’ Experience with Information Literacy Skill. Yangtze Medicine, 1, 157-168. https://doi.org/10.4236/ym.2017.13016