Information Seeking by Nurses in the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria
Published: 2017
Author(s) Name: Yahya Ibrahim Harande, Binta Ladan Faruok |
Author(s) Affiliation: Faculty of Edu., Dept. of Library and Information Scie., Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
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Abstract
The present paper examines information needs and information seeking behaviour of the professional nurses at Aminu Kano
Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. One hundred and sixty practicing nurses served as the respondents to this research. The findings of the research
indicate that majority of nurses (91%) are aware that they need current information to function professionally well. Most of the nurses (62%)
expressed their urgent need of information resources to handle cases for maternal and childcare health issues. A significant number of the
nurses (24%) indicated their need for professional training. In order to fight diseases in the community, 22% of the nurses showed their need
for this purpose. The medical library services in the hospital were indicated as adequate (52%) by the respondents despite the absence of
current information resources. Some challenges and problems such as slow Internet connectivity and lack of staff training were expressed by
the respondents (87%) as hindering their effective professional performances. The paper recommends for the provision of very strong Internet
connectivity, on the job constant training of the professionals and provision of current information resources in the medical library for the
professionals to meet the information needs of their clients and render evidence based professional services.
Keywords: Information Need, Information Seeking Behaviour, Professional Nurses, Teaching Hospitals, Universities, Nigeria
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