Experience of Internet Utilization by Post Graduate Students at Nishter Medical College, Multan, Pakistan

Introduction Internet is being proved as an appropriate pedagogic instrument for learning at all levels. Use of electronic resources by medical students is helpful for seeking relevant and current information and is being increased rapidly. Thus, assessing the ever-changing information consulting, accessing and retrieving modes of information users is helpful to create a continuous improvement in information provision system. The current study is based on comprehensive review available literature on internet usage by medical students and analyzes the preference of medical student towards internet at Nishter Medical College, Multan. Limited studies have been conducted on this topic in South Punjab, Pakistan, thus this study aims to explore internet utilization tendency among PGS having considered the increased use of internet among medical students globally. Purpose of the Study This study was conducted to explore the PGS's attitude towards internet and use of different health related websites and databases, usage purpose, frequency and problems faced while using internet at Nishtar Medical College, Multan South Punjab Pakistan. Research Methodology This study is based on comprehensive literature review in order to identify the exploitation of internet resources by medical students. The study adopted a descriptive research method. A literature-based and pre-tested questionnaire was designed and distributed among 210 Post Graduate Students at the Nishtar Medical College of Multan. The response rate was 85%. Acquired data were analyzed with the help of SPSS software. Literature Review In (2010) Judd & Kennedy examined "A five-year study of on-campus Internet use by undergraduate biomedical students". The basic aim of their study was to evaluate the use of internet by undergraduate biomedical students. Researchers described in their study that most often the major activity of internet users were information seeking. The researchers stated that the usage of different digital resources for seeking information was rapidly increased by the students during their study period. Their research indicate that most of the students depend on different information tools for seeking information, mostly Google and Wikipedia were used by students to support their learning activities. Gray, et al. (2005) surveyed the "Health information seeking behavior in adolescence: the place of the internet". They described in their study that young people have been facing many difficulties, in accessing their required information from traditional information services while the access of information through online services was so convenient. According to Hughesa,Joshib & Warehama (2009) Web 2.0 play vital role in information seeking for medical education and clinical decisions. Researchers concluded form their study that the use of Web 2.0 technologies by medical students was very helpful to share their information and cross check information. Shanahan (2008) discussed the "Transforming information search and evaluation practices of undergraduate students". It showed that undergraduate students use very short range of information resources to meet their learning and information needs. Most students depend on the internet and they use primary search methods as like search engines, to meet their information needs. Researcher described in his study that large numbers of medicals students use databases and also described that 70% medical student's often use databases to search their required information. Shanahan (2007) stated in his study that the successful learners know where to look for information in their required study area to meet their required information needs. Shanahan indicated in his study that the students should improve their information literacy skills that could be helpful in seeking information. Health professionals and students working in the environment information technology and suggested that there was need for organizing workshops to developing information literacy skills. …