A survey of Information Literacy level and its related factors among the students of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences and Kurdistan University

Background & Aim: Information literacy is a concept emerged through the rapid transformation of information technologies, which is essential to survival in an information community. The present study aimed to determine information literacy and its contributing factors in the students of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences and Kurdistan University in 2015. Materials & Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 500 students at Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences and Kurdistan University in Kurdistan, Iran in 2015. The subjects were selected via single-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected using the standardized questionnaire by Davarpanah and Siamak. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 20 using t-test and one-way analysis of variance.  Results: Mean score of information literacy was 25.12±8.40 (total score: 87) among the subjects. The mean score of information literacy was higher in the students of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (25.99±8.43) compared to the students of Kurdistan University (22.68±7.91) (P=0.02). In addition, the score of information literacy was higher in the medical students compared to non-medical students (P=0.03). Conclusion: Considering the low level of information literacy in university students and given the importance of information skills in the scientific progress and professional efficiency of individuals, training should be provided on such skills through research methodology workshops and computer work in order to increase the information literacy of these students