The importance of leisure reading to health sciences students: results of a survey

Health Information and Libraries Journal - Tập 33 Số 1 - Trang 33-48 - 2016
Erin Watson1
1Leslie and Irene Dubé Health Sciences Library University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon Canada

Tóm tắt

AbstractObjective

To determine what value health sciences students place on leisure reading, whether they prefer to read online or in print, what the principal barriers are to their reading and whether they wish to have a leisure reading collection at their health sciences library.

Methods

In October 2010, a link to a survey was sent to all 1800 students in health sciences professional programmes at the author's institution.

Results

Two hundred and thirteen students (11.8%) responded. Most felt that leisure reading had helped in their development as health professionals and increased their empathy. They listed many benefits of reading, such as improved understanding of minority groups, reduced stress, and improved thinking and communication skills. The majority preferred to read books and magazines in print, while the largest number preferred reading newspapers in print as well. Lack of time, fatigue and the expense of purchasing reading materials were the greatest barriers to reading. A majority of students were in favour of having a leisure reading collection set up at their library.

Conclusions

Leisure reading was valued by the respondents, who felt it provided personal and professional benefits. However, many indicated that circumstances made it difficult to participate in leisure reading.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

10.1097/00001888-200310000-00007

10.1046/j.1365-2923.2001.01110.x

10.1097/00001888-200310000-00015

10.1097/00001888-200310000-00016

10.1097/00001888-200310000-00006

10.1097/00001888-200310000-00021

10.1097/00001888-200310000-00002

Dmani S., 2008, Literary appreciation for medical students at International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur: the learner's experience, British Medical Journal, 34, 88

10.1111/j.1365-2923.2010.03826.x

10.3928/01484834-20080701-01

10.1097/01.NNE.0000289381.29255.1b

10.1016/S0002-9629(15)40754-2

10.1136/bmj.c863

Lang F., 1988, A study of the reading habits of fourth‐year medical students, Journal of Medical Education, 63, 567

10.1046/j.1365-2923.2000.00542.x

10.1136/mh.29.1.54

10.1080/10401330802384599

Pekkarinen P., 2006, Medical humanities gaining ground in Finland, Global Connections: Newsletter of the IFLA Section of Health and Biosciences Libraries, 5, 9

10.1111/j.1471-1842.2011.00931.x

10.1111/hir.12042

Sarjeant‐Jenkins R.&Salt L.(2013).Public Library and the University Library Leisure Collection Partnership. Accessible at:http://cla.pwwebhost.com/conference/assets/sessions/E34_Leisure_collection_partnership_presention-CLA2013.pptx

10.5860/crl-148

10.5860/crl.75.5.705

10.1300/J101v13n25_02

10.1017/CBO9780511621956.004

10.1080/0270271960170201

10.1371/journal.pone.0055341

10.1126/science.1239918

Kumar M. P., 2008, Study of stressors and coping techniques in first year medical students, Biomedicine, 28, 108

10.1097/ACM.0b013e31824d47ff

10.5688/aj7206137

Baron N. S., 2015, Words Onscreen: The Fate of Reading in a Digital World

10.1080/10875301.2013.840713

10.18438/B84W4G

10.1177/0961000613488124

Mance H., 2015, Book resilient as readers remain true to type, The Financial Times