Resource format preferences across the medical curriculum

Objective: This research study sought to determine the formats (print or electronic) of articles and book chapters most-preferred by first-year medical students, third-year medical students entering clinical clerkships, and incoming residents and to determine if these preferences change during the c...

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Main Author: Keith M. Pickett
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University Library System, University of Pittsburgh 2016-09-01
Series:Journal of the Medical Library Association
Subjects:
Online Access:http://jmla.pitt.edu/ojs/jmla/article/view/11
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spelling doaj-acbe905db17b4278bb94daa12e8fc1ee2020-11-24T21:46:31ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghJournal of the Medical Library Association1536-50501558-94392016-09-01104310.5195/jmla.2016.115Resource format preferences across the medical curriculumKeith M. Pickett0MLIS, Research Support, Web Resources and Education Librarian, Rudolph Matas Library of the Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1430 Tulane Avenue, Mail Code 8586, New Orleans, LA 70112-2699Objective: This research study sought to determine the formats (print or electronic) of articles and book chapters most-preferred by first-year medical students, third-year medical students entering clinical clerkships, and incoming residents and to determine if these preferences change during the course of the medical curriculum. These trends will enable academic health sciences libraries to make appropriate collection development decisions to best cater to their user populations. Methods: First-year medical students, third-year medical students, and incoming medical residents were asked to complete a paper survey from September 2014 to June 2015. The survey consisted of five multiple-choice questions, with two questions given space for optional short answers. Quantitative and qualitative responses were collected and calculated using Microsoft Excel. Results: First-year students, third-year students, and incoming residents all preferred to read journal articles and book chapters in print, except in cases where the article or book chapter is under ten pages in length. Although print is preferred, demand for electronic articles and book chapters increases as students progress from undergraduate medical education into residency. The only category where a majority of incoming residents chose an electronic resource was which format they would give to a colleague, if the article or book chapter was critical to the care of an individual patient. Conclusions: The preference for print resources is strong across the medical curriculum, although residents show an increased preference for electronic materials when compared to first- and third-year students. Academic health sciences libraries should take these preferences into account when making decisions regarding collection development.http://jmla.pitt.edu/ojs/jmla/article/view/11Library Surveys, Library Collection Development, Information Services, Questionnaires
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Keith M. Pickett
spellingShingle Keith M. Pickett
Resource format preferences across the medical curriculum
Journal of the Medical Library Association
Library Surveys, Library Collection Development, Information Services, Questionnaires
author_facet Keith M. Pickett
author_sort Keith M. Pickett
title Resource format preferences across the medical curriculum
title_short Resource format preferences across the medical curriculum
title_full Resource format preferences across the medical curriculum
title_fullStr Resource format preferences across the medical curriculum
title_full_unstemmed Resource format preferences across the medical curriculum
title_sort resource format preferences across the medical curriculum
publisher University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
series Journal of the Medical Library Association
issn 1536-5050
1558-9439
publishDate 2016-09-01
description Objective: This research study sought to determine the formats (print or electronic) of articles and book chapters most-preferred by first-year medical students, third-year medical students entering clinical clerkships, and incoming residents and to determine if these preferences change during the course of the medical curriculum. These trends will enable academic health sciences libraries to make appropriate collection development decisions to best cater to their user populations. Methods: First-year medical students, third-year medical students, and incoming medical residents were asked to complete a paper survey from September 2014 to June 2015. The survey consisted of five multiple-choice questions, with two questions given space for optional short answers. Quantitative and qualitative responses were collected and calculated using Microsoft Excel. Results: First-year students, third-year students, and incoming residents all preferred to read journal articles and book chapters in print, except in cases where the article or book chapter is under ten pages in length. Although print is preferred, demand for electronic articles and book chapters increases as students progress from undergraduate medical education into residency. The only category where a majority of incoming residents chose an electronic resource was which format they would give to a colleague, if the article or book chapter was critical to the care of an individual patient. Conclusions: The preference for print resources is strong across the medical curriculum, although residents show an increased preference for electronic materials when compared to first- and third-year students. Academic health sciences libraries should take these preferences into account when making decisions regarding collection development.
topic Library Surveys, Library Collection Development, Information Services, Questionnaires
url http://jmla.pitt.edu/ojs/jmla/article/view/11
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