Graduate Occupational Therapy Students and Information Literacy: Does a Research Consultation Increase Information Literacy Skills while Lowering Library Anxiety?

Abstract

In today’s academic environment, students equipped with self-regulated learning and information literacy skills have an excellent opportunity for professional success, given our current information-based practices in health care. Information literacy instruction provided to students early in their coursework will aide them in acquiring competency for the remainder of their studies, especially scholarly projects. Along with information literacy issues, library anxiety has been identified in the literature as a contributing factor to poor academic performance in students. The purpose of this study was to explore components of library anxiety, if present, as well as to help students become more comfortable and proficient with library resources in analyzing research articles. Library anxiety and information literacy was addressed by requiring, via a class assignment, a cohort of MOT adult learners to connect 1:1 with a librarian for a research consultation. This study took place strategically at the beginning of the students’ professional program to better prepare them for future research assignments, including their scholarship project.