Medical students' use of information resources: is the digital age dawning?
OBJECTIVE
One of the many challenges clinicians face is applying growing medical knowledge to specific patients; however, there is an information gap between information needs and delivery. Digital information resources could potentially bridge this gap. Because most medical students are exposed to personal computers throughout their education, this study postulated that students may be more comfortable using computer-based information resources within clinical interactions.


METHODS
In 2001, the authors monitored second-year medical students' use of a unique digital textbook, UpToDate, as they transitioned from preclinical to clinical years at the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. In 2002, at the end of their third year, students were surveyed about their preferred clinical information resources.


RESULTS
Medical students rapidly adopted UpToDate as a clinical resource during their clinical clerkship as evidenced by a rapid growth in the electronic textbook's use. One hundred sixteen of a possible 154 students (75%) responded to the survey. More than 85% of respondents identified electronic sources as their primary resource (UpToDate 53%, MDConsult 33%; p <.001 when compared to paper resources). They also reported using the information resources on a daily basis and requiring less than 15 minutes to answer most of their clinical questions.


CONCLUSIONS
This study clearly demonstrates that medical students embrace and use electronic information resources much more than has been reported among practicing clinicians. The current generation of students may be the leaders in a medical culture shift from paper to electronic resources.
Peterson
Michael W
MW
Department of Medicine, University of California at San Francisco-Fresno Medical Education Program, Fresno, California 93702, USA. michael.peterson@ucsfresno.edu
Rowat
Jane
J
Kreiter
Clarence
C
Mandel
Jess
J
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D003197:Computer Literacy; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007484:Iowa; D011380:Programmed Instructions as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology