Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Information Literacy
Course Code
B_025
Branch of Science
Clinical medicine
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Dentistry
LQF
Level 5
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Daiga Spila
Structure Unit Manager
Ināra Aploka
Structural Unit
Library
Contacts
Riga, 16 Dzirciema Street, biblioteka@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
The aim of the study course is to improve the quality of the study process in the search, retrieval and evaluation of information, providing a general picture of the possibilities for searching for medical information, deepening skills in searching for medical and dental information in online databases and the global database of quoted journals, PubMed, and providing a basis for preparing research papers and qualification papers.
Preliminary Knowledge
Basic skills in work with computers, state language and English language proficiency.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.After successful fulfilment of the requirements of the study course, students will have acquired knowledge that will allow recognition and evaluation of qualitative, reliable, evaluated and scientific resources of medical and dental information necessary for the preparation of the qualification paper. Students will demonstrate information search tools and features, establish an appropriate information search strategy, and apply critical evaluation to the information found. The acquired knowledge will allow the second web tools and opportunities to receive and organise the latest dental information to be applied.
Skills
1.As a result of learning the study course, students will be able to work independently with electronic resources in the medical and dental sector, apply extended search skills in the search for electronic information. Carry out an in-depth search of information in e-books, online databases, the world’s PubMed database of quoted journals, will build accurate search strategies to be used in research and qualification paper development and retain results. Students will develop their digital skills related to data, information and digital content management. Students will be able to apply digital technologies, create a personal profile in information resources, adapt their activities according to copyright and licenses. Students will be able to prepare precise references and quotes in accordance with the requirements for drawing up qualification papers, as well as perform in-depth searches, systematisation and preservation of literature for qualification papers.
Competences
1.Students, applying the acquired theoretical and practical knowledge, will be able to perform qualitative, evaluated searches for information. Students will independently analyse information search opportunities and situations, as well as develop an appropriate search strategy. Students will be able to critically analyse the sources found and create a high-quality list of literature to be directly used in the development of research papers and qualification papers.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
|
Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Individual work |
-
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-
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IIndependent and systematic learning from the indicated readings and information sources. Individual or group work in completing assignments on information search and presentation of the results. The student consolidates the acquired lecture material by reading the indicated sources, actively working with RSU subscribed databases and free access resources, performing independent work and submitting them. The aim of the practical work is to get acquainted with each resource, in which you can search for high-quality and evaluated information for your research work, to be able to evaluate the quality of resources in online resources, as well as to understand the connection between these resources for full text retrieval and reference.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Examination |
-
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Test
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Active participation in classes. 100% independent work and homework. Final test: test. Invitation to fill in the study course evaluation questionnaire. |
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Information literacy. Information seeking. Define topic (keywords, search terms). Information retrieval techniques: basic and advanced search, phrase search, hyphenating, truncating, boolen logic. Evaluating and saving information.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Computer room
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2
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Topics
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RSU subscribed databases, resources, tools. Access to RSU subscribed resources.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Computer room
|
2
|
Topics
|
RSU subscribed databases, resources, tools. Access to RSU subscribed resources.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Catalogue and finding publications in library catalogues. Linking electronic catalogues to the Primo search engine.
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Computer room
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2
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Topics
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E-books databases: EBSCO, EbookCentral, AccessMedicine, ClinicalKey. Information searching, evaluating and saving the results.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Types of scientific journals. Electronic journals. Citation databases. Citing and referencing. Citing and referencing. Systems of referencing. References from databases, Primo tool. RSU rules for creating references.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Computer room
|
2
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Topics
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Full text journal databases. Information searching, evaluating and saving the results. Retrieval of full texts of publications. Interlibrary loan.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Computer room
|
2
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Topics
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Primo search tool. Tool: E-resources from A-Z.
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Reference tool EndNote. Exporting and retrieving references.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
|
Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Reference, encyclopaedia, news databases: Letonika, News.lv, Leta, Nozare, Britanica.
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Free access internet resources. Internet searching systems. Searching for trustworthy and reliable medical information. Quality of information on the internet (principles of quality). Evaluating the quality of free access resources.
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Database PubMed: Database PubMed: characteristics, creating an individual profile, search strategy, managing results, saving results.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Computer room
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2
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Topics
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PubMed Tools: MeSH database (controlled medical vocabulary), Journal Database, Single Citation Matcher. Linking PubMed with other resources (databases, EndNote, Primo), full text retrieval.
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Research search tools in the PubMed database. PubMed Central. Bookshelf.
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Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Computer room
|
2
|
Topics
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Characterization of evidence-based medical resources, information search specifics in them. Evidence-based databases available at RSU: DynaMed, ClinicalKey, Cochrane Library, UpToDate.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Linking resources for full-text retrieval. Course summary. Interactive test.
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Test
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Mārtinsone K., Pipere A. 2019. Zinātniskā rakstīšana un pētījumu rezultātu izplatīšana / Kristīnes Mārtinsones un Anitas Piperes zinātniskajā redakcijā; autori: Uldis Berķis, Maija Dambrova, Inese Gobiņa, Kristīne Mārtinsone; Ivans Jānis Mihailovs [un vēl 7 autori]. Rīga: Rīgas Stradiņa universitāte.
2.
Spila D., Znotiņa I. 2019. Medicīnas informācijas meklēšana elektroniskajos resursos. RSU TIC.
3.
Spila D., Znotiņa I. 2014. Medicīnas informācijas pamatu apgūšana elektroniskajos resursos: Mācību materiāls informācijpratībā [Elektroniskais resurss]. Rīga: RSU.
4.
Spila D. 2013. Pasaules medicīnas citējamo žurnālu datubāze PubMed un informācijas meklēšanas iespējas: Mācību materiāls informācijpratībā [Elektroniskais resurss]. Rīga: RSU.
5.
Znotiņa, I., Vītola, B. 2025. Informācijas meklēšanas pamati elektroniskajos resursos. Rīga: RSU.
6.
Medical Information Literacy: eBook for medical librarians. 2021. Authors: Sirje Virkus, Riina Kuik, Ivika Rande, Keiu Saarniit, Piret Truu, Žaneta Brazdžiūtė, Zane Bondare, Signe Riekstiņa-Pāla, Daiga Spila, Daiga Šļahota, Inga Znotiņa, Meilė Kretavičienė, Asta Burbulytė, Laura Petrauskienė. [PDF]. Kaunas.
7.
NCBI handbook. 2025 [electronic resources].
Additional Reading
1.
Berkman, Robert I. 2015. Find It Fast : Extracting Expert Information From Social Networks, Big Data, Tweets, and More. Information Today. (EBSCO)
2.
Bradley, Phil. 2017. Expert Internet Searching. London: Facet Publishing. (EBSCO)
3.
Downey, Annie. 2016. Critical Information Literacy : Foundations, Inspiration, and Ideas. Library Juice Press. (EBSCO)
4.
Freedman T. 2015. Coming of age: an introduction to the NEW worldwide web [electronic publication]. (EBSCO)
5.
Teaching Information Literacy and Writing Studies. 2019. Volume 2, Upper-Level and Graduate Courses, edited by Grace Veach, Purdue University Press. (EBSCO)
6.
Thomas N., Franklin L., Crow S. 2011. Information Literacy And Information Skills Instruction: Applying Research To Practice In The 21St Century School Library [e-book]. Santa Barbara, Calif: Libraries Unlimited. Available from: eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost).