Investigating the Relationship Between Digital Skills and Information Entrepreneurship Intention Among Medical Library and Information Science Students

This study investigated the relationship between digital skills (digital literacy and digital fluency) and information entrepreneurial intention among students of Medical Librarianship and Information Science in Iran. Recognizing that these future health information managers require advanced digital competencies to identify and capitalize on entrepreneurial opportunities, the research aimed to determine how these skills influence their entrepreneurial ambitions.

A descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted in the second semester of the 2024–2025 academic year. From a statistical population of 459 students across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels, 210 participants were selected via stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a validated and reliable four-part questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.964) measuring demographic information, information entrepreneurial intention (19 items), digital fluency (16 items), and digital literacy (31 items). The data were analyzed with SPSS 26 using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and other inferential tests.

Results showed that students possessed a high level of digital literacy (mean score 119.41 ± 22.56) but only a moderate level of digital fluency (57.49 ± 12.12). Their information entrepreneurial intention was also at a moderate level (64.19 ± 14.20). Critically, Pearson’s correlation revealed a positive and significant relationship between both digital literacy and entrepreneurial intention, and digital fluency and entrepreneurial intention. While significant gender and age-based differences were found in digital skills, no significant differences in entrepreneurial intention were observed based on gender, age, or academic level.

The findings conclude that digital skills are a significant facilitating factor for entrepreneurial intention. The moderate levels of fluency and intention suggest a gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. The absence of demographic influences on entrepreneurial intention implies it is shaped more by psychological and contextual factors. These results provide a foundation for developing targeted educational programs to foster an entrepreneurial culture within medical universities.