1Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Bathinda-151101, India.
2Department of Pharmacology, Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Ram Nagar, District Patiala-140601, India.
3Department of Pharmacology, Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Bathinda-151101, India.
Use of internet and information technology is becoming a popular mode for accessing medical information in Medical Colleges. The objective of present study is to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of medical faculty in using these facilities for accessing primary medical information.
A pre-tested questionnaire was distributed for filling, among the faculty of two Medical Colleges (Assistant Professor and above), after getting their consent. At the end of the study, the entire data was collected and results were expressed in average and percentages.
In total 180 forms were received back. 65% of faculty used internet as primary source of drug information. 60% were in the habit of reading e-journals, but only 8% had personal subscription of some e-journal. 50% faculty members had used ‘pay per article’ facility in their life. Pub-med was the most favorite site for accessing medical information. Only two faculty members had ever used tele-medicine facility. More than 90% faculty was of the view that the section ‘how to access and use medical information’ should be a part of undergraduate medical curriculum.
Use of internet and information technology is quite common among faculty members of Medical Colleges, particularly so by the younger lot; but still there is room for improvement. Moreover, how to access medical information by using information technology tools should be made a part of the undergraduate medical syllabus.
Curriculum, Drug information, Information technology, Internet
