Use of Web-based library resources by medical students in community and ambulatory settings.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose was to evaluate the use of Web-based library resources by third-year medical students.


METHODS
Third-year medical students (147) in a twelve-week multidisciplinary primary care rotation in community and ambulatory settings.


METHODS
Individual user surveys and log file analysis of Website were used.


RESULTS
Twenty resource topics were compiled into a Website to provide students with access to electronic library resources from any community-based clerkship location. These resource topics, covering subjects such as hypertension and back pain, linked to curriculum training problems, full-text journal articles, MEDLINE searches, electronic book chapters, and relevant Websites. More than half of the students (69%) accessed the Website on a daily or weekly basis. Over 80% thought the Website was a valuable addition to their clerkship.


CONCLUSIONS
Web-based information resources can provide curriculum support to students for whom access to the library is difficult and time consuming.
Health Sciences Library System, Falk Library of the Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA. tannery@pitt.edu
Nancy Hrinya
NH
Tannery
Jill E
JE
Foust
Amy L
AL
Gregg
Linda M
LM
Hartman
Alice B
AB
Kuller
Paul
P
Worona
Asher A
AA
Tulsky
D001292:Attitude to Computers; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007993:Libraries, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007999:Library Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States