Kinengyere ahila10 alison

ICTS AND HEALTH INFORMATION IN 21ST CENTURY : 

ICTS AND HEALTH INFORMATION IN 21ST CENTURY KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF UTILISATION OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION RESOURCES BY THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE IN MAKERERE UNIVERSITY, UGANDA By Alison A. Kinengyere

Outline: 

Outline Introduction Problem Resources in question Methodology Findings & discussion Conclusions & recommendations

Introduction: 

Introduction This is a preliminary study carried out between May and August 2006 Major comparative study to be carried out starting December 2006 focusing on selected medical schools in Uganda and Kenya. This preliminary study is focused on Faculty of medicine, MUK

Background and purpose: 

Background and purpose The Faculty of Medicine situated 1.5 km away from MUK main campus comprises 21 departments an Institute of Public Health, Infectious Diseases Institute and a Library. Established in 1946. Accommodates about 800 students, out of which 100 are graduate students, 126 full time & 38 part time academic staff. Note: Study focuses on academic staff & graduate students.

Background cont…: 

Background cont… Reviewing of literature at the centre of every research process Today’s medical students & researchers have got more options through which to meet their info needs: print, e-resources (focus). They can access these resources in the different locations: Library, offices or even at home.

Problem: 

Problem The Faculty of medicine, in collaboration with MUK has invested heavily in e-resources to support research, teaching & learning. Equipment has been put in place, connectivity has been done in most depts, user training sessions have been conducted, BUT … Usage statistics indicate very low usage of the resources, in relation to the no. of students/researchers & investment (cost).

Problem cont’d… Source: INASP & publishers: 

Problem cont’d… Source: INASP & publishers

Usage statistics for ELIN: May 2005-April 2006: 

Usage statistics for ELIN: May 2005-April 2006

Problem cont’d…: 

Problem cont’d… Utilisation of e-resources in Faculty of Medicine is not very different from other faculties. Statistics are showing positive trends over the past 3 years, but the level of utilisation is still low.

Purpose: 

Purpose The study was conducted to identify possible causes for underutilization and suggest strategies for improvement. PBL & COBES in faculty – utilisation of resources multiplies opportunities for students’ self-directed learning as they use a variety of info sources.

E-resources in question: 

E-resources in question E-books Electronic journal databases (fulltext) Open access databases via Pub Med & HINARI: e-bookshelf & DOAJ Databases on CD ROMs (Cochrane…) Bibliographic databases (AIM, OPAC) In-house systems like USDL & ELIN University-wide communication networks (mailing lists). All these accessible via lib website

Methodology: 

Methodology Student questionnaire was administered to 100 graduate students and a staff questionnaire to 30 academic staff. 65 students (65%) questionnaires were returned, while 23 (80%) of staff questionnaires were returned. In all, there was 68% response.

Methodology cont’d…: 

Methodology cont’d… Students questionnaire was administered to all 100 graduate students 30 academic staff were administered with staff questionnaire (preliminary) Findings expressed as %ges.

Findings & discussion: 

Findings & discussion

Findings & discussion cont’d…: 

Findings & discussion cont’d…

Staff database usage: 

Staff database usage

Frequency of library visits: 

Frequency of library visits Students 35.4% - at least once in 1-6 days 24.6% - once a week 15.4% - once a month, and 24.6% - once in 2 months

Library visits cont’d…: 

Library visits cont’d… Staff 16% - daily 54.2% - at least once in 2-6 days 12.5% - once a week 4.8% - once a month, and 12.5% - once in 2 months

Usage in the last one month: 

Usage in the last one month

Access points: 

Access points

Preferred access location: 

Preferred access location

Access problems reports: 

Access problems reports 69.2% reported access difficulties 29.3% did not report (open ended questions) 1.5% did not respond to the question. Technical issues 63% said technical staff dealt with technical issues efficiently, while 37% said no

Training: 

Training The majority (70%) said resources are sufficient but time devoted to training end users is limited. 30% said they are able to use all the resources to answer their queries Insufficient training was supported by Adam & Bonk’s study – that most common obstacle to use e-resources was absence of info about specific d’bases & lack of training.

Subject coverage: 

Subject coverage 50.8% - sited insufficient coverage of their subject areas 49.2% agreed that the coverage was sufficient. Addition to existing resources 35.4% said they were consulted while 64.6% were never consulted.

Attitude & practice of users: 

Attitude & practice of users Older respondents still attached to print information because: Familiar Can be read without any specialist equipment Believe print is easy to carry home & cheap to use They are hesitant to start formal training sessions in computer use Belief that Labs are ever full occupied & cannot wait in the queue.

Attitude & practice of users cont’d…: 

Attitude & practice of users cont’d… Out of 89 respondents, 1.1% admitted they were not very good with technology.

Conclusion and recommendations: 

Conclusion and recommendations Conclusion This is a preliminary study Non response could imply non use of resources (68% responded). Use & knowledge about available e-resources is generally poor. Attitude towards technology is not very positive though the practice of utilisation is common.

Conclusion and recommendations: 

Conclusion and recommendations Conclusion cont’d… Use & non-use partially depends on a person’s experience & attitude to IT Major study will cover a bigger population and other issues like time frame and a definition of optimum utilisation. For example exposure may be just one of the many reasons of underutilisation.

Conclusion and recommendations: 

Conclusion and recommendations Recommendations Marketing/promotion of resources available in the Faculty More vigorous IL program for both users and Library staff Maintenance of access points e.g. computer labs in library and elsewhere in the faculty

Conclusion and recommendations: 

Conclusion and recommendations Recommendations… Improve DDS services – fast delivery of requested documents Extend LAN to all departments Increase bandwidth, increase speed Digitize all research already done in the faculty to make it easier for other researchers to access. This will promote utilisation. Communication with non-users

Conclusion and recommendations: 

Conclusion and recommendations Recommendations… Evaluate & monitor usage so as to obtain usage statistics. This will help Librarians determine what resources to continue subscribing to and which ones to cancel (value for money & user satisfaction) Note: Most of these are management issues, & increased utilisation will depend on them

Slide32: 

Finally, burden of responsibility for informing faculty about e-resources falls only on the Library. All should be stakeholders in this noble cause. Thank you.