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HEALTH INFORMATION NEEDS OF MEDICAL STUDENTS (A CASE STUDY OF IMO STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (IMSUTH) ORLU)

ABSTRACT

This study is an examination of the health information needs of medical students: A case study of Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH) Orlu. The introduction dealt with the conceptual definition of information, information needs, medical students and historical background of the institution under study. Chapter two reviewed aspects of medicine in which information is needed in order to enhance the development of medicine in the nation it goes further to review the stress and coping in health information, and the sources of information available to medical students. Chapter three which is methodology, dealt with the survey method as chosen for the conduct of the research and was supplemented with questionnaire. It also examined study population, sample size, research instrument, data collection procedure. Chapter four is the proper analysis which was based on one institution mentioned above. Simple frequency tables were used to buttress to point. It also dealt with the main discussion from the analysis and findings of the entire project. Chapter five is the conclusion and recommendations which tried to highlight the various techniques needed to enhanced the development of medicine through the provision of accurate and factual information to the medical students.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Information plays a vital role in the social and economic development of every country. It is quite obvious that the quality and efficiency of output by any organization or institution is determined by the caliber of information existing in the organization. In view of this, it is necessary to define the major concepts used in this study and they include information, information needs and medical students.

Information is defined by the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary of Current English as “facts fold, heard or discovered”. Information is as important as the three basic necessities of life which are water, food and shelter. It should therefore be given enough priority in order to achieve what it is meant for. We should be aware that information needs of people varies. There is need for adequate attention and provision of health information to medical students. These attention and concern will be from the provision of those beneficial information which will enhance and also facilitate the growth and development of medicine and medical products. It will be meaningful to reach them through available means which will be quick and effective.

Eyitayo in his paper quoted the work of a great Philosopher, Benjamin Disreal who said “The most successful man is the one who has information”. This observation was made by Disreal a century ago, but it is very appropriate today as ordinary people in the community, rural dwellers, literate and non-literate struggle hard to keep ahead of others in progress. They need information to assist them in dealing with their day to day problems.

Information like money gives both economic and political power to the possessor of it. Power to achieve things take advantage of opportunities and to take control of people. It is therefore a prerequisite to the development and allocation of other resources. Thus, information is power as maintained by information scientist. The advance countries of the world today control the world economy and political power. America dominates in the world affairs because it has the information and power. The 3rd world countries today depend on the developed countries for food, technology and economically as well as for survival, this is to say that information is an important and powerful commodity in any human community.

According to Omoniwa, the informational aspect of library services is not that of propaganda but that of generating, collecting and disseminating up-to-date, accurate, unbiased and relevant information available in books, periodicals, bulletins, guides, abstracts, indexes, Bibliographies and non-book formats which can be stored and retrieve whenever needed.

From the above definitions, we can see that information is an essential part of our existence and can be exploited to improve the lot of society. Professionals in every field cannot function well or carry out their functions effectively if information is not made available to them. This also applies to medical students, who needs information and it can be made available to them through the provision of current and relevant materials that will serve their information needs. Since the medical students are advancing towards perfection in the sustenance and maintenance of human life, they need authentic and accurate information to perform effectively. Information on how new medical products, inventions like that of Dr. Abalaka who claims to have invented HIV cure could be made available to them.