A Survey of Information Literacy among Students of Faculty of Management and Information Science in Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2014

Information literacy is a set of skills for accurately identifying and accessing information sources, and the ability to purposefully use them and it is a tool for personal capability that is very important for students. The aim of this study was to investigate the state of information literacy in students of Management and Information Science faculty of Tehran University of medical sciences in 2014. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 338 students of management and Information Science faculty of Tehran University of medical sciences in 2014. The information literacy was measured through a valid and reliable questionnaire of information literacy. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics tests, t-test and ANOVA. The information literacy among students was at average level. The mean score of information literacy in male students was 44. 13±8.77 and was 45.27±9.17 in female students of a total 110; no significant difference was observed between the two genders (p=0.302, t=1.03). The mean score of information literacy showed significant differences in terms of the field of study. The highest score of information literacy was observed in heath economics students (51±6.23) and then health information management (50.26±4.92) (F=2.85, P=0.01). The mean score of information literacy also showed significant differences in terms of educational attainment; it was 43.76±7.97 for BS students, 46.48±11.58 for MSc students and it was 52±2.82 for PhD students (F=6.58, P=0,003). Given the average level of information literacy among students, and the importance of information skills in scientific advancements and efficiency of people in their jobs, it seems necessary to teach skills for increasing students’ information literacy.