Information literacy skills in medical students.

Habilidades de alfabetização informacional em estudantes universitários

Authors

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6018/edumed.704201
Keywords: Information Literacy, Medical Informatics, Computer Literacy, Education, Medical

Abstract

According to the American Library Association, the student is an active creator of information, which is fundamental for the medical student in the application of evidence-based medicine and e-Health. This research aimed to examine the information literacy skills of medical students at a particular university. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using non-probability self-selection sampling. A questionnaire was administered to collect students' perceptions of their information literacy skills related to searching, managing, evaluating, and communicating information. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed, and odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. A total of 170 students participated; 68.8% were women, and their ages ranged from 17 to 38 years. The domains with the lowest scores were information search and communication. Thirty percent of the students demonstrated information literacy skills. Being in the first semesters of medical school, being female, and not taking information literacy courses were associated with a lack of information search skills. Not taking information literacy courses was also associated with weaknesses in communicating information. It is concluded that training in information skills for university students is necessary to improve these skills.

 

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Author Biographies

Natyibe Cisneros Jiménez , Universidad Hipócrates

Formación de químico biólogo parasitólogo por la Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, con Maestría en Ciencias en Epidemiología y Doctorado en Salud Pública.

Graciela Garcia Morales, Instituto Tecnológico de México

Ingeniera en Sistemas Computacionales por el Instituto Tecnológico de México. Maestría en Docencia. Doctorado en Educación. Especialidad en Sistemas Digitales.

Aaron Iván Garcia Florez, Universidad Hipócrates

Médico Cirujano egresado de la Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero. Especialista en Medicina Familiar.

Josue Rosaliano Salinas, Universidad Hipócrates

Licenciado en químico biólogo parasitólogo por la Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero. Maestría y Doctorado en Docencia. Especialista en Hematopatología.

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Published
27-03-2026
How to Cite
García Morales, G., Cisneros Jiménez , N., Garcia Morales, G., Garcia Florez, A. I., & Rosaliano Salinas, J. (2026). Information literacy skills in medical students.: Habilidades de alfabetização informacional em estudantes universitários. Spanish Journal of Medical Education, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.6018/edumed.704201