Use of Electronic Databases by Final year Students of the University Of Ghana College Of Health Sciences

Abstract

Modern trends in medical and biomedical sciences education show the use of electronic databases as an invaluable tool because it provides users with current and up to-date information. It is due to this fact that the University of Ghana subscribes to a host of these databases. In spite of the usefulness of electronic databases, students of the University of Ghana College of Health Sciences do not make full use of these resources. This situation raised the question: How are final year students at the University of Ghana College of Health Sciences using electronic databases? Sub-questions included: • What has been reported on the use of electronic databases by students in academic contexts? • What are final year students’ at the University of Ghana College of Health Sciences level of awareness of electronic databases and other electronic information resources? • Which electronic databases are used by final year students at the University of Ghana College of Health Sciences? • Which challenges impact on final year students at the University of Ghana College of Health Sciences as they use electronic databases? The study employed a quantitative research design using a self-administered questionnaire among final year students of the College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana in October 2015. The participants were 242 final year students (under-graduate final year and post-graduate final year). The study revealed that 189/242 (78.1%) of the final year students were aware of the electronic databases to which the College of Health Sciences Library subscribes. HINARI, AJOL, EBSCOHOST and ScienceDirect were the most used electronic databases. It was also found that the use of electronic databases mainly improved accessibility to information, improved availability of current information and was perceived by students to enhance the quality of assignments and research. However, lack of guidance, lack of appropriate search skills, and internet connectivity problems were the major reasons that impeded the use of electronic databases among the final year students of the College of Health Sciences. Recommendations were made for theory and practice, as well as further research.