ABSTRACT

 The study investigated the use of library resources for health decision making by medical doctors in government hospital with a specific reference to Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia). The specific objectives were to: find out the level ofavailability oflibrary materials, determine the extent of use oflibrary resources by medical doctors, ascertain the extent to which library resources have aided medical doctors in health decision making, examine the problems associated with the use of library resources by medical doctors and to find out the strategies that could be adopted to improve the use oflibrary resources by medical doctors in decision making in FMC, Umuahia, Abia State. The study was carried out using descriptive survey research design. The target population ofthe study is 286 medical doctors in Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia, Abia State Nigeria. The study collected data using a structured questionnaire, while the data realized were analysed using descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentages. The study found that majority of the library materials needed in a medical library were available. Library materials were being used by the doctors in the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia. Library resources in the medical centre have aided in the decision of improved patients’ diagnosis, improved quality of consultation for patients, reduced mortality, good choice of drugs, reduced length of admission time, and surgical operations decisions. The study also revealed that Problems associated with the use of library resources by medical doctors include non-availability ofcurrent sources ofinformation, high cost acquisition ofmaterials, lack oftime to read or browse, lack of basic infrastructure, poor internet connectivity, proximity to the library and attitude toward acquisition of information and technology skills. Finally, the study found that regular acquisition of current materials by the library, regular IT skills training ofthe doctors, extension of library opening hours, provision ofup-to-date online library services and internet connectivity are the strategies that could be employed to improve the use oflibrary resources by medical doctors in decision making. Based on the findings, the study recommended that: medical centres should ensure that information materials that are relevant for the field of health, medicine and surgery are regularly updated in the library so as to provide up-to-date information for doctors that make use of the library: doctors are encouraged to regularly use the medical libraries in medical centres as regular usage will create a need for information resources which will subsequently be filled: the need for recruitment ofcapable librarians and other library professionals who will develop collection policies that will aid in the provision and maintenance of information resources in the medical centres and that medical centres and its management should provide e-libraries that will aid in providing on time, easy to access and up-to-date information resources for medical doctors.