Determination of the information sources used by senior nursing students and their information literacy levels

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the information sources used by nursing students and their information literacy levels. Methods: The study was descriptive.  A total of 153 nursing students studying in the nursing department of a health sciences faculty participated in this descriptive study. Data were obtained between 13.11.2023-01.12.2023 using the Information Form and Information Literacy Scale. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) 22.0 package program was used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean age of senior nursing students was 21.93±1.06 years. 5.9% of the students stated that they received training on information literacy and 31.04% on the use of information resources. It was determined that the information sources that senior nursing students used the most to access information were the internet, textbook, and instructor, and the primary information sources used in clinical practice were the internet, nurses, and instructors. The mean total score the Information Literacy Scale of nursing students was 4.0±0.46. Conclusion: It was determined that senior nursing students mostly used the internet, textbooks, and instructors to access information, and they also used the internet, nurses, and instructors in clinical practice. The information literacy levels of nursing students were found to be close to high level. In line with these results, it can be recommended that courses aimed at improving nursing students’ information literacy skills should be included in the curriculum of all nursing schools, critical thinking skills should be included in the courses so that students can critically evaluate the information obtained from the internet, nurses and instructors should follow current information and participate in activities on information literacy.