Electronic Resource Usage and Information Seeking Behaviors of Faculty in Medical Colleges Across Tamil Nadu

This study examines the information-seeking behavior and electronic resource (e-resource) usage patterns among faculty members from ten selected medical colleges across the southern region of Tamil Nadu, India. A descriptive survey design was employed, and data were collected via an online questionnaire distributed to 550 faculty members between March and May 2025. With 480 valid responses, a high response rate of 87.3% was achieved. Findings indicate that faculty frequently access e-journals and trusted research databases such as PubMed, with Google Scholar being the most preferred search tool. Despite active engagement, significant barriers were reported, including slow internet connectivity, inadequate training in e-resource utilization, and restricted access to full-text articles. Statistical analyses revealed significant associations between demographic variables such as age, gender, and academic designation and patterns of e-resource usage. Notably, Assistant Professors demonstrated significantly higher e-resource engagement compared to senior faculty. This study contributes region-specific insights into the digital information landscape of medical academia in Tamil Nadu and underscores the urgent need for enhanced digital infrastructure, targeted training programmes, and institutional support to optimize e-resource accessibility and use.