摘要：Objectives: The research investigated the extent towhich students, residents, and faculty members inCanadian medical faculties use mobile devices, suchas smartphones (e.g., iPhone, Android, Blackberry)and tablet computers (e.g., iPad), to answer clinicalquestions and find medical information. The results ofthis study will inform how health libraries caneffectively support mobile technology and collections.Methods: An electronic survey was distributed bymedical librarians at four Canadian universities tomedical students, residents, and faculty members viadepartmental email discussion lists, personal contacts,and relevant websites. It investigated the types ofinformation sought, facilitators to mobile device use inmedical information seeking, barriers to access,support needs, familiarity with institutionally licensedresources, and most frequently used resources.Results: The survey of 1,210 respondents indicatedwidespread use of smartphones and tablets in clinicalsettings in 4 Canadian universities. Third- and fourth-year undergraduate students (i.e., those in theirclinical clerkships) and medical residents, comparedto other graduate students and faculty, used theirmobile devices more often, used them for a broaderrange of activities, and purchased more resources fortheir devices.Conclusions: Technological and intellectualbarriers do not seem to prevent medical traineesand faculty from regularly using mobile devices fortheir medical information searches; however,barriers to access and lack of awareness might keepthem from using reliable, library-licensedresources.Implications: Libraries should focus on providingaccess to a smaller number of highly used mobileresources instead of a huge collection until library-licensed mobile resources have streamlinedauthentication processes.
