The Library conducted a survey to investigate students’ knowledge and use of e-resources.

Objective: to investigate students’ knowledge and use of e-resources advertised on the Library’s website or shown during courses

Targeted audience: approx. 2000 students approached by email through the AEML. The survey was also accessible on our website and Facebook

Response rate: 161 respondents, translating into an 8% response rate (Bachelor 50.9%, Master 49.1%)

Scope of investigation: questions about a broad range of resources, including databases, journal sites, and self-assessment tools

Trends
Responses show a high interest in resources such as PubMed, Amboss, UptoDate as well as the Revue Médicale Suisse website. The Amboss self-assessment tool, although exclusively offered to M3 students, is widely used and particularly popular.
Clinical Key, a platform offering access to ebooks in French, which was tested last spring, has had limited success (only 20% of answers acknowledge that resource).

Obstacles encountered include a too large variety of resources (infobesity) and lack of focus on relevant tools. There seems to be no particular recommendation from lecturers to use these products. Responses also show discrepancies between contents taught and the resources.
Language and technical problems are not considered as barriers to the use of the e-resources.

Conclusion
The open-ended questions reveal a variety of study habits, ultimately not always academically sound. Some respondents mention the use of books in pdf format, scanned documents or handouts passed on from former students, as well as some online encyclopedias and medical journals.

This survey also reveals that the use of e-resources needs to be accompanied by targeted presentations by librarians. A reflection should be conducted with the Faculty to ensure the resources are complementary to the content of the curriculum.