Third year nursing students' understanding of how to find and evaluate information from bibliographic databases and Internet sites

SummaryThe aim of this study was to increase undergraduate nursing students' knowledge of finding and evaluating information from selected bibliographic databases and Internet sites. A quasi-experimental design was adopted. The 2004 autumn cohort (n = 480) was divided into two approximately equal groups at the beginning of their studies. One group was subjected to a greater number of assignments requiring them to find and evaluate bibliographic and Internet-based information. The assignments were spread throughout the curriculum. Questionnaires were used to collect data. The low response rate makes generalizing the findings difficult. Only small differences were demonstrated between the knowledge of the revised assignment group and that of the other students. Both groups had a poor understanding of the use of important search and evaluation techniques. The results indicate that strategies proven in one context are not necessarily as effective in a new context and that more research is needed into which learning activities best enhance the development of information literacy skills during undergraduate nursing education.