Relationship between Critical Thinking and Information Literacy in Students of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences

Judgment on serious clinical situation, deciding to maintain the vitality of human in complex problems, and thinking in difficult situations require critical thinking in the field of health science. A standard framework of information literacy can be a foundation for critical thinking and independent learning that creates balance between the capacity of curiosity, creativity and judgment in students. In this study, we measured information literacy standards, critical thinking skills as well as the relationships between these standards and skills among students of Ardebil University of Medical Sciences from different fields and years of study.
This survey was conducted on a sample of 400 students from 13 different fields and years of admission using two standard questionnaires; "test of CCTST form B" and "information literacy".
Survey results show that students don’t have enough ability and skill at all the five standards of information literacy and critical thinking skills. Scores of students in these variables are far from the desired values. Students total score in information literacy was 45.43 from 87 (52.22%) and the total score of critical thinking 11.73 from 34 (34.5%). It was also found that there is a significant positive correlation between information literacy and critical thinking (p Poor scores of students in critical thinking skills and information literacy standards, little changes in these skills during university study time, and the importance of these two issues in clinical decision and improving the level of clinical skills, shows the necessity of paying more attention to this issue in the health field and making changes, and inclusion of activities to improve them in health ministry programs.