The SMARTAL (St MARTin’s College health students Access to Learning resources whilst on placement) Project

The SMARTAL project was run by one part-time researcher over a 15 week period (December 2004 to March 2005). A literature review was conducted at the beginning of the project to provide background information and awareness of similar research in the area. The methodology (questionnaires to students and interviews with clinical support staff) was developed by Northumbria University’s HENSAL (Health and Education Northumbria Students Access to Learning resources) project, which reported in 2002. Using an existing methodology enabled SMARTAL to be run within the time scale and triangulate the experience gained by the HENSAL project team. It also enabled comparisons to be made with the findings of the HENSAL project to determine national patterns and trends. The questionnaire data was analysed using SPSS software.

The findings of the SMARTAL project identified various barriers faced by placement students in accessing learning resources¹ . Particular difficulties concerned access to a library for students working away from a large hospital, access to networked computers and study space and inconvenient library opening hours. The project report will make recommendations to the College and to the local NHS Strategic Health Authority with a view to providing an improved service to placement students from the College library and the NHS libraries.

The research has been supported by the College sabbatical leave scheme, which for the first time in 2004 invited support staff to apply for funding alongside academics. Library Services was keen to take advantage of this opportunity since library-led projects and research will contribute to the local evidence-base to support the implementation of the Library Services Strategic Plan 2005-2009.

¹ Learning resources covered printed and electronic books and journals, web-based information, IT and study space.