Library and Information

Medicine has three main components—patient care, education and research—that generate information and that are information dependant. Clinicians need to stay updated in their field to be able to provide the best advice and healthcare to patients and keep track of new developments, to support their activities. Patient education is an extension of patient care activity, and clinicians usually educate during consultation. These information needs are complex and dynamic and quick answers are expected. Several studies have observed that clinicians are unaware of resources and do not have the skill for formulating a search statement. This chapter has tried to understand and elaborate these needs, reviewed from literature and experience. Information literacy and use of an appropriate database are additional needs of the clinicians. The chapter, therefore, also includes an explanation of the search technique, use of Boolean operators with examples and referral lists to help select the appropriate resource, explaining how libraries can be of help. This chapter aims to be useful to young doctors who have no formal training in effective searching and use of the library.