A questionnaire-based study on literature searches among medical postgraduates

INTRODUCTION

Literature searching databases such as PubMed support the search and retrieval of biomedical and life sciences literature to improve health both globally and personally.[1] It is important during the postgraduate period as they were learning and need to update their knowledge about recent advances, evidence-based practice, etc., Evidence gathered through literature search can be used to answer a clinical question, write a research or review article, prepare a presentation, etc.[2]

METHODS

Study design

The questionnaire-based study was focused on medical postgraduates’ knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) toward literature searching. The primary version was developed through a wide literature review using PubMed.

Validation of questionnaire

Validity of the questionnaire was randomly done on 15 selected participants and was performed by experts at the Department of Pharmacology, Rangaraya Medical College. The domains containing 4 awareness-related, 6 knowledge-related, 8 attitude-related, and 7 practice-related questions were finalized based on the pretest results.

Data collection

Pretested questionnaire was distributed among all participants through WhatsApp, Telegram, and LinkedIn. Google Forms was used to survey the questionnaire. One day was allotted to them for the collection of the filled forms.

Statistical analysis

Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 29.0.2.0 Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation while categorical variables were measured as percentages.

RESULTS

Four hundred participants were approached, out of which 226 (56.5%) responded to the questionnaire. Out of 226 participants, 214 (94.7%) were aware of literature searching. In the next phase, data regarding KAP of literature searching among postgraduates were collected from these 214 participants. Out of 214 postgraduates, 84 were 1^st-year, 66 were 2^nd-year, and 64 were 3^rd-year postgraduates.

Awareness about literature searching

About 5.3% of participants were not aware of literature searching databases. Among the unaware, most of them were 1^st-year postgraduates (75%) followed by 2^nd-year postgraduates (25%).

Knowledge domain

Eighty-two percentage knew that literature searching was used to organize information followed by developing questions for further research, to identify lacunae and to synthesize results. About 55.1% knew about Medical Subject Headings and 68.2% knew about the Boolean operator terms such as AND, OR, and NOT. Despite knowledge of Boolean operators, 57.9% were not aware of the symbols for Boolean nesting, Boolean operator OR, search field tag, and wild card symbol.

Attitude domain

Eighty-five percentage of participants thought that PubMed gives more information than other databases and helps medical professionals (96%). Other than available filters, participants were thinking of adding “Vancouver” style under the cite section (89%); “transgender” under the sex filter (86%); “country” under additional filter (100%); and “case report” under article type.

Practice domain

Fifty-seven percentage of postgraduates preferred the Boolean operator “AND” to combine different concepts in a search whereas 27.1% preferred “OR.” About 41.1% preferred to use the Boolean operator “OR” to increase the number of results whereas 44.9% preferred “AND.” About 58.9% knew how to use keywords in a search. Despite knowledge of Boolean operators, 66.4% (n = 141) do not know how to use PICO criteria, and only 28% (n = 60) preferred “Clinical queries” to search COVID-19-related queries.

DISCUSSION

The ability to search the literature is crucial for evidence-based current breakthroughs, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.[3] In summary, there was a lack of knowledge about advanced search and Boolean operators in this study, but there is a positive attitude toward literature searches. By interpreting the results, it appears that 3^rd-year postgraduates had significantly greater knowledge (P = 0.0001) and practice (P = 0.0007) than 1^st-year postgraduates. Indeed, there is a lack of clarity regarding the appropriate usage and context for the fundamental search field tags such as (tiab) and (ta) and Boolean operators such as “AND” and “OR.”[3]

This study could serve as a foundation for subsequent KAP investigations, given there has not been any research done on KAP regarding literature searches up to this point.[2] This study could not be generalized to a large population due to the small sample size. In conclusion, effective medical curricula must be implemented to improve medical students’ knowledge regarding literature searching. Furthermore, awareness has to be created among medical students through regular classes and workshops.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Funding Statement

Nil.