title: Evidence-based information-seeking skills of junior doctors entering the workforce: an evaluation of the impact of information literacy training during pre-clinical years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the extent to which junior doctors in their first clinical positions retained information literacy skills taught as part of their undergraduate education.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants drawn from different training cohorts were interviewed about their recall of the instruction they had received, and their confidence in retrieving and evaluating information for clinical decision making. They completed a search based on a scenario related to their specialty. Their self-assessment of their competency in conducting and evaluating a search was compared with an evaluation of their skills by an experienced observer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most participants recalled the training they received but had not retained high-level search skills, and lacked skills in identifying and applying best evidence. There was no apparent link between the type of training given and subsequent skill level. Those whose postgraduate education required these skills were more successful in retrieving and appraising information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Commitment to evidence-based medicine from clinicians at all levels in the profession is needed to increase the information seeking skills of clinicians entering the work force.
authors.affiliation: School of Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand. rowena.cullen@vuw.ac.nz
authors.forename: Rowena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esson
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D007993:Libraries, Medical; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009520:New Zealand; D016134:Organizational Policy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013337:Students, Medical