The Impact of CD-ROM in the University of Ghana Medical School Library

Abstract

Reports on a study of the impact of CD-ROM on access to health information in the Ghana Medical School Library by faculty members, students, residents or medical officers and other health personnel. In particular, it assessed the impact of CD-ROM use on faculty research output and clinical practice of doctors. The results indicate a generally low level of CD-ROM use among respondents. Only 21 percent were found to use the service. Faculty members accounted for 47 percent of CD-ROM users, and the study showed that the use of CD-ROM has had a great effect on faculty research outputs. However, clinicians have been able to make only limited use of the service in support of clinical practice. In general, the CD-ROM service has had a positive impact due to its comprehensiveness and effectiveness in bibliographic identification and the useful abstracts it provides. Includes recommendations for the improvement of the service. © 2003, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.