Assessment of Knowledge Sharing Behaviours of Postgraduate Students in Selected Nigerian Universities

This study assessed the knowledge sharing behaviours of postgraduate students in selected Nigerian Universities. The study focused of knowledge sharing practices of postgraduate students, media of knowledge sharing, commonly shared knowledge and factors that influences postgraduate students’ knowledge sharing behaviours. The study employed a descriptive survey design which involved the design of questionnaire which was validated by means of Cronbach’s coefficient alpha of (0.70). The questionnaires were administered on (503) postgraduate students who were either on course work or thesis as at the time of the study. The analysis of data revealed that (55.6%) of the postgraduate students’ preferred face-to-face knowledge sharing to other media. The analysis further showed that knowledge in the areas of individual studies was the most commonly shared knowledge among the majority (92.8%). The study further revealed that of the three identified factors (individual, institution and technology factors) influencing knowledge sharing among the postgraduate students, only individual factor (? = .085, p < 0.05) was shown to significantly influenced students’ knowledge sharing bahaviours. The results of the study suggested that the university policy makers have a duty to encourage a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration among her students particularly Masters (MSc) and Doctorate (PhD) students for sustainable postgraduate training and development. Keywords: Knowledge Sharing, media, Postgraduate Students, learning, University, Nigeria,

SOCIAL MEDIA USE FOR MEDICAL INFORMATION SHARING AMONG MEDICAL OFFICERS IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATION FOR LIBRARIANSHIP

The use of social networking in industry and academic has been recognised in the literature. However, there are dearth of literature on the extent to which medical officers in Nigeria are making use of the social media for disease diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. The current study therefore seeks to investigate the extent of use of social media among medical officers in Nigeria hospitals. The study adopted the survey research design. A total of 250 medical officers were randomly selected across the hospitals in Nigeria. Data for the study was collected via online google form which was sent to the social media and social networking site of the medical association of Nigeria. The data gathered was checked for validity and reliability and subsequently analyzed using relative importance index (RII) with the aid of the IBM statistical package for social science (SPSS) and Microsoft excel version 21. Findings from the study revealed that the overall RII of the use of social media is greater than the threshold of 0.5. In terms of relative importance, it shows that WhatsApp has the highest (RII = 0.86) indicating high preference and highest relative importance. With regards to benefits of social media use, majority of respondents agreed that social media helps in gaining new ideas, skills or techniques (RII = 0.88), this was closely followed by avoidance of situation that can expose someone in the contacting of COVID-19 (RII = 0.87). With regards to factors militating the use, the findings shows that personality/individualism (RII = 0.83) was ranked first among the factors, while lack of network availability (RII = 0.79) was ranked 2nd. The study concluded that it is essential that health organizations should incorporate social media in their medical communication strategies, to modernize the approaches currently in use with a view to significantly increase the likelihood of reaching different patients with diverse health conditions

EMPERICAL ANALYSIS OF LIBRARY RESOURCES USE BY CLINICAL STUDENTS IN LAUTECH COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES, OGBOMOSO, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

The study was designed to examine use of library resources by medical students in LAUTECH College of Health Sciences, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. The study employed the descriptive survey design to collect primary data from Medical students of College of Health Sciences, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. A total of two hundred and eighty (280) medical students (400 -600 level) of College of Health Sciences were randomly selected for the study. The main instrument for data collection was a structure questionnaire which was administered to the respondents shortly after their lectures. Both face and content validity of the instrument were carried out. The reliability test of the research instrument was done by means of the Cronbach alpha test and a Cronbach’s score of 0.7 was derived. The data gathered was analyzed using relative importance index. Relative importance index helps to rank the criteria according to their relative importance. Findings from the study indicated that medical textbooks (0.812) ranked first of the library resources available to students, closely followed by dictionaries (0.754), newspaper magazines (0.696), internet (0.687), medical journals (0.598), encyclopedia (0.552), data base (0.519), world health publications (0.514), OPAC (0.474), thesis & dissertation (0.446) and CD-ROM (0.438). With regards to purpose of use, it shows that research (0.826), followed by examination preparation (0.825), advancing knowledge (0.808), and self-development (0.806), were the major reasons for using the library. Those materials frequently used include medical textbooks (0.608) ranked first in the frequency at which library resources are used, followed by dictionaries (0.676). Others are internet (0.666), newspaper magazines (0.661), medical journals (0.608), encyclopedias (0.596), thesis & dissertation (0.564), world health publication (0.561), CD-ROM (0.542), data-base (0.534) and OPAC (0.533) lastly, with regards to barriers militating effective use of the library and its resources, the study shows that obsolete library resources (0.743), difficulty locating resources (0.703), poor sitting arrangement (0.671), poor ventilation (0.675), noisy library environment (0.652), and slow internet network (0.733) constituted major barriers. The study recommended that the college authority should urgently looked into the critical barriers highlighted in this study and adopt workable strategies to effectively improve the overall library condition both in terms of physical and material resources that are hindering effective library utilization among medical students and scholars in the college

Health workforce and governance: the crisis in Nigeria

Background In Nigeria, several challenges have been reported within the health sector, especially in training, funding, employment, and deployment of the health workforce. We aimed to review recent health workforce crises in the Nigerian health sector to identify key underlying causes and provide recommendations toward preventing and/or managing potential future crises in Nigeria. Methods We conducted a scoping literature search of PubMed to identify studies on health workforce and health governance in Nigeria. A critical analysis, with extended commentary, on recent health workforce crises (2010–2016) and the health system in Nigeria was conducted. Results The Nigerian health system is relatively weak, and there is yet a coordinated response across the country. A number of health workforce crises have been reported in recent times due to several months’ salaries owed, poor welfare, lack of appropriate health facilities and emerging factions among health workers. Poor administration and response across different levels of government have played contributory roles to further internal crises among health workers, with different factions engaged in protracted supremacy challenge. These crises have consequently prevented optimal healthcare delivery to the Nigerian population. Conclusions An encompassing stakeholders’ forum in the Nigerian health sector remain essential. The national health system needs a solid administrative policy foundation that allows coordination of priorities and partnerships in the health workforce and among various stakeholders. It is hoped that this paper may prompt relevant reforms in health workforce and governance in Nigeria toward better health service delivery in the country

Use of Mobile Technologies for Accessing Health-Related Information among Librarians in Osun State, Nigeria

Objectives: This is an exploratory study that focused on identifying the contemporary health related information needs of librarians in Osun State; types of mobile technology used for accessing health related information as well as identifying challenges experienced in using mobile technology for accessing health related information. Methodology: This study adopted a survey research design. The population of the study consisted of 133 librarians in Osun State. Total enumeration of all the population was adopted. From the total 133 questionnaire that were administered, 126 (representing 94.74%) were duly completed and used for analysis. Frequency counts and percentage calculation were used to analyse the quantitative data, while thematic description was used in analyzing the qualitative data collected. Findings: The study discovered that information on COVID-19 (77.8%); nutrition (66.7%); and physical fitness (66.7%) were the most sought information by the respondents. Majority (94.4%) of the respondents accessed health-related information using their smart phones. Also, majority of the respondents mostly seek for health related information through Whatsapp (83.3%) and Facebook (61.1%). Poor internet service and difficulty in trusting the credibility of the online sources (83.3% each) were the two major barriers faced by the librarians in using mobile technology for accessing health related information. Recommendations: Librarians need to explore other electronic health information sources rather than concentrating on social media; there is the need for increased knowledge of librarians on online information searching strategies and also, there is need for improved internet services provision by the operators. Originality: This study identified contemporary health related information needs of librarians in Osun Stat, Nigeria and electronic information sources frequently used and preferred. These findings will be instrumental in meeting the health information needs of the librarians by the concerned and relevant stakeholders. This study is also an additional contribution to existing literature in the area of health related information seeking among librarian

Barriers to Knowledge Management Practices, Interprofessional Collaboration and Information Technology Application in Federal Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria

Effective dissemination of knowledge among  healthcare professionals using information and telecommunication technology has been identified as an important tools to improve qaulity service delivery. This study provide succinct explanation of the constraints of using information technology in the management of knowledge among diverse healthcare professionals  in federal tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. The study specifically focus on factors militating against the effective use of information technology application to manage knowledge to promote interprofessional collaboration for improved quality service deleivery. Cross-sectional data were collected from 479 healthcare workers across the federal tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. Using the Relative Importance Index (RII), the results show that inadequate ICT infrastructure (R = 0.79), inadequate technical support (R = 0.78), ICT illiteracy (R = 0.77), inadequate management support (R= 0.76), behavioural and personal characteristics (R = 0.72), among others are the major barriers militating against interprofessional collaboration  and knowledge management in federal tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. Majority of the respondents also perceived  lack of time and interaction among healthcare workers, poor verbal communication, level of experience, organisational structure and hierarchy, difference in education and gender as parts of the sociocultural factors inhibiting effective management of knowledge and interprofessional collaboration  among healthcare workers. The study concludes that provision of basic information and communication technology facility to healthcare workers is paramount to enhance knowledge sharing and interprofessional collaboration to improve quality health service delivery. Adequate funding, provision of medical infrastructure and basic amenities, healthcare workers eduction and orientation towards the benefits of interprofessional collaboration using the IT application are suggested as ways to improve quality healthcare services in tertiary hospiatls.

THE MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH RECORDS LIBRARIES THROUGH THE LENS OF RANGANATHAN’S THEORY

A good health records management requires adequate attention to its preservation and conservation for the benefits of the patients, care providers and the hospital. This paper takes a look at the relevance of the five laws of library and information science in the management of health records library. The paper differentiated between a record and a health records. The paper highlighted the internal structure of a health record library and how Ranganathan’s five laws of librarianship can be applied in the management of a health records library. The paper concluded that the five laws in the context of health records management practices should reads: Health records are for use, Every user his [or her] health records, Every health records its users, Save the time of the health records user and the health records library is a growing organism

THE MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH RECORDS LIBRARIES THROUGH THE LENS OF RANGANATHAN’S THEORY

A good health records management requires adequate attention to its preservation and conservation for the benefits of the patients, care providers and the hospital. This paper takes a look at the relevance of the five laws of library and information science in the management of health records library. The paper differentiated between a record and a health records. The paper highlighted the internal structure of a health record library and how Ranganathan’s five laws of librarianship can be applied in the management of a health records library. The paper concluded that the five laws in the context of health records management practices should reads: Health records are for use, Every user his [or her] health records, Every health records its users, Save the time of the health records user and the health records library is a growing organism

Health workforce and governance: the crisis in Nigeria

Background: In Nigeria, several challenges have been reported within the health sector, especially in training, funding, employment, and deployment of the health workforce. We aimed to review recent health workforce crises in the Nigerian health sector to identify key underlying causes and provide recommendations toward preventing and/or managing potential future crises in Nigeria. Methods: We conducted a scoping literature search of PubMed to identify studies on health workforce and health governance in Nigeria. A critical analysis, with extended commentary, on recent health workforce crises (2010-2016) and the health system in Nigeria was conducted. Results: The Nigerian health system is relatively weak, and there is yet a coordinated response across the country. A number of health workforce crises have been reported in recent times due to several months' salaries owed, poor welfare, lack of appropriate health facilities and emerging factions among health workers. Poor administration and response across different levels of government have played contributory roles to further internal crises among health workers, with different factions engaged in protracted supremacy challenge. These crises have consequently prevented optimal healthcare delivery to the Nigerian population. Conclusions: An encompassing stakeholders' forum in the Nigerian health sector remain essential. The national health system needs a solid administrative policy foundation that allows coordination of priorities and partnerships in the health workforce and among various stakeholders. It is hoped that this paper may prompt relevant reforms in health workforce and governance in Nigeria toward better health service delivery in the country.</p