Tracking Student Searching Skills:  Do Medical Students Retain Effective Search

Education

Patient Centered Medicine (PCM-1) is a required course for all 1^st year medical students (M1s).  The Coordinator, Research & Education Services worked with the director of the PCM-1 course to integrate library skills into their curriculum.  Students come to the library during their scheduled small group time for a 90 minute, hands-on class which covers how to identify and use library resources and also do an effective Ovid Medline search.  Immediately after the library session, students are required to complete an assignment in which they are expected to apply the searching tips taught them in class.  Librarians then critique the assignment and return them to the students.  Students whose work “does not meet expectations” are required to redo the assignment.

 

There is no formal contact with the students during their 2^nd year but librarians have the opportunity to work with the students again as M3s.  In July of their 3^rd year, the M3s are required to complete a computer based learning (CBL) module, “Searching for evidence-based-medicine literature,” developed by the librarians.  The objective of this module is to introduce the concept of Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) and teach the students how to search for EBM literature.    Specific EBM databases are covered as well as a review of effectively searching OVID.  During their required Family Medicine Clerkship, M3s complete an EBM project in which they identify a clinical question, do a literature review, and write a report discussing their findings and treatment decision.  Each M3 meets with a librarian after completing their research.  The librarian discusses the student’s search strategy with them and completes a critique which is handed in to the Clerkship Director.

Librarians compared the search results from the PCM-1 and the Clerkship assignments for students’ ability to: identify key concepts in their search query, choose appropriate MeSH headings, use Explode, apply appropriate limits, and apply correct Boolean Logic.

Our data suggests that students were able to identify key concepts in their search query, choose appropriate MeSH headings two years after a hands-on class but lost some skill in the use of Explode, applying appropriate limits, and using correct Boolean Logic.  As a result, we will evaluate our educational materials and focus on these features.

For more information about this service: Jeanne Sadlik

E-Mail: jsadlik@lumc.edu