Apstrakt
Introduction: The digital divide is a global challenge. The Health Internetwork Access to Research Initiative (HINARI) is one of the most successful efforts aimed at bridging the digital divide in access to health information in developing countries. There is a dearth of empirical studies on usage pattern of this resource in Nigeria. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge and usage pattern of HINARI by clinicians and researchers in tertiary health institutions in Southwestern Nigeria.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1150 clinicians and researchers in the 12 tertiary health institutions that had access to HINARI. A standardized, self-completed, 31-item questionnaire was used for data collection. It elicited information on demographic profile, pattern of usage and constraints to use of HINARI.
Results: The majority (72.0%) were aware of HINARI however, only 35.1% have had a formal training on how to use it. Sixty-eight percent (68.0%) had ever used HINARI resources and 62.4% of these did so during the month preceding the study. The most frequently used HINARI resources were MEDLINE/PubMed (53.2%), full text journal articles (55.0%), and reference materials (28.5%). Previous users (50.0%) encountered problems in accessing HINARI; with lack of password being the main challenge for access.
Conclusion: Knowledge and use of HINARI resources are high. However, clinicians and researchers are not deriving full benefits from HINARI because few had received training on how to use it. A learner-centered training and wide distribution of the HINARI User Name and Password within the institutions is recommended to address this problem.
Keywords: HINARI, Health professionals, researchers, librarians, usage pattern, health institutions, Nigeria
Résumé
Introduction: La déconnection numérique est un défi mondial. L’initiative d’accès au travail digital en santé et la recherche (HINARI) est l’un des efforts les plus réussis visant à réduire la déconnection numérique dans l’accès à l’information sanitaire dans les pays en développement. Il ya très peu d’études empiriques sur le mode d’utilisation de cette ressource au Nigeria. Le but de cette étude était d’évaluer les connaissances et le mode d’utilisation de HINARI par les médecins et les chercheurs dans les établissements de santé tertiaires du sud-ouest du Nigeria.
Méthodologie: Une étude transversale descriptive a été menée auprès de 1150 médecins et chercheurs dans les 12 établissements de santé tertiaires qui avaient accès à HINARI. Un questionnaire standardisé de 31 éléments a été utilisé pour la collecte des données. Ils complétaient des informations sur leur profil démographique, le motif de l’utilisation et des contraintes à l’utilisation de HINARI.
Résultats: La majorité (72,0%) était au courant de HINARI cependant, seulement 35,1% ont eu une formation formelle sur la façon de l’utiliser. Soixante-huit pour cent (68,0%) avaient déjà utilisé les ressources HINARI et 62,4% d’entre eux l’ont fait au cours du mois précédant l’enquête. Les ressources HINARI plus fréquemment utilisés étaient MEDLINE / PubMed (53,2%), en texte intégral des articles de journaux (55,0%) et des matériaux de référence (28,5%). Les utilisateurs précédents (50,0%) ont éprouvé des difficultés à accéder à HINARI et l’absence de mot de passe est le principal défi pour l’accès. La connaissance et l’utilisation des ressources HINARI sont élevés. Cependant, les médecins et les chercheurs ne tirent pas pleinement profit de HINARI parce que quelques-uns avaient reçu une formation sur la façon de l’utiliser.
Conclusion: Une distribution de la formation largement centrée sur l’apprenant du HINARI (nom d’utilisateur et mot de passé) dans les institutions est recommandée pour régler ce problème.
Correspondence: Mrs. Grace A. Ajuwon, Latunde Odeku Medical Library, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. E-mail: agajuwon@comui.edu.ng; agajuwon@yahoo.com.
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