Information Literacy among Ophthalmologists: A Study

Abstract

Background: Information literacy enables Ophthalmologists – Eye Doctors to achieve a wide variety of academic, work related and personal goals. The study aims to examine the information literacy skills among ophthalmologists. Methodology: The study design is cross-sectional and convenience sampling method is adopted. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. SPSS 18 PASW Statistical package was used for statistical analysis. Frequencies, percentages, Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, chi-square were used in the study. Findings: Around 633 ophthalmologists working in 47 academic eye hospitals from 16 states of India were included in the study. The results revealed that majority of the ophthalmologists were able to find the information within a few hours and there doesn’t any association with ophthalmologists’ individual and institutional characteristics. Majority of the ophthalmologists were confident on the literacy skill “When I recognize an information need, I determine what topic I have to search”. The statistical test results showed that there exist a significant difference between ophthalmologists’ information literacy skills and designation, experience. Conclusion: The ophthalmic librarians, ophthalmic institutions, ophthalmic training institutions, and ophthalmic community should provide literacy programs to improve the information literacy skills of ophthalmologists.