Information Seeking Skills in Online Medical Databases and its relationship with background variable: A Study among Students of Babol University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Introduction: Due to increase in information volume, the skills in searching information from scientific databases have become a necessity for researchers. This research aimed to assess the skills in searching information from online databases included in Iranian National Medical Digital Library among students in Babol University of Medical Sciences, Iran.                                        Methods: This study was an applied research that conducted as a descriptive study. Study sample Included 335 students majoring in Babol University of Medical Sciences during the academic                                                                                                           Year of 2011-2012 (N=2600). They were selected by using stratified random sampling. Study Instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire that its validity was confirmed by medical library and information science specialists and its reliability questionnaire by Cronbach alpha test was a=0/89. Data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics and inferential statistical (U Mann–Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis Tests) in SPSS 16 software. Results: There was no significant difference between male and female students as to their searching skills. Their skills in searching online databases were significantly different based on their academic levels and majoring fields. Only 11.5 percent of students have medium and high level skills in searching online databases and the skills of 69.2 percent was low. 19.3 percent had no searching skills. Conclusion: Regarding the effect of academic levels and majoring fields on students ‘information searching skills, these variables are worth considering in information seeking skills training. The skills in searching online databases are not satisfying among the students of medical universities. Then, it is proposed that regular courses to be held and effective awareness to be informed. Keywords: Students; Databases; Universities