Journal of Modern Medical

Introduction: Considering the academic members as fundamental part of education and research in the country, meeting the guidelines of resolving the information needs is very important. So the present study aimed to assess the information needs and information seeking behavior in academic members of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences in 2013.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Using census method, 210 of the faculty members, clinicians, GPs and lecturers of the university were investigated. A researcher made questionnaire was applied in order to collect the data. SPSS 16 software was used to analyze the data using Chi-Ssquare and T-test.

Results: Findings showed that participants' main purpose and motivation seeking the information was to update their educational and research information (36.2%), prepare scientific papers (33.3%) and teaching (31.9%). The first problem regarding the access to information resources comprised low speed of the Internet. Databases with 48% met the information needs of the participects followed by printed resources which was found to be 13, 8 percent.

Conclusion: Databases provide individual information needs three times more than printed resources. Low speed of the Internet was mentioned as the main barrier impeded access to information resources. Therefore, providing up to date databases as well as increasing speed of the Internet are of high importance.