Librarian involvement in a nutrition undergraduate research course: preparing nutrition students for evidence-based practice.
Given the foundational importance of literature searching skills to later stages of research and, ultimately, evidence-based practice, the authors wanted to assess a unique strategy for teaching such skills. This pilot study describes the results of an undergraduate nutrition research course in which a librarian lead several class sessions. The goal of this study was to assess students' perceptions, attitudes and use of research literature and resources before and after a course partially taught by a librarian. Twenty-seven students enrolled in an undergraduate Introduction to Research course at Georgia State University were given pre- and post-test questionnaires at the beginning and end of a course that included three librarian-led class sessions. Most of the results indicate that the repeated involvement of a librarian enriched this particular undergraduate research course. By the end of the course, students were more comfortable in libraries and with using library resources; they used the campus library more frequently; they were more confident in their ability to find high-quality information on nutrition-related topics and identify strengths and weaknesses of different information sources; and they felt they gained skills that will help them achieve their educational and career goals.
Division of Nutrition, School of Health Professions, Georgia State University, University Library, 100 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. ssmith142@gsu.edu
Susan C
SC
Smith
Meera
M
Penumetcha
D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D016245:Librarians; D007998:Library Science / Q000193:education; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012106:Research / Q000193:education*; D013336:Students, Health Occupations