– A study surveyed library managers from higher education institutions and identified that 98.51% of medical schools already use at least one clinical decision support platform.
Amid the digital transformations occurring in the healthcare field, medical courses are also following this trend, increasingly incorporating the technologies used daily by doctors and healthcare professionals into the routine of university students. This is revealed by the new research “The role of libraries in medical education in the age of digital health.”produced by Wolters Kluwer Health, which provides an unprecedented overview of how university libraries support this process.
The study, which surveyed library managers from 66 public and private institutions across Brazil that offer medical programs, reveals the importance of these spaces in consolidating [the field of study/development]. Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) and the challenges to expanding the use of available digital tools.
The research identified that 98.51% of the medical schools surveyed already use at least one clinical knowledge platform to support decision-making, with particular emphasis on... UpToDate®, identified by 81.8% of institutions as the most relevant solution. Remote access has become the predominant practice in 83.3% of universities, allowing full access to digital databases outside the physical environment. As for periodicals, 81.8% of libraries maintain digital content with remote access and 78.8% offer open access, expanding the diversity of available sources.
Despite these advances, full utilization remains limited. While 74% of institutions indicate daily access to the platforms by students, 60.6% of administrators assess that the resources remain underutilized. Issues such as the lack of regular training, present in one-third of institutions, and the centralization of acquisition decisions outside the libraries were identified as recurring barriers. In 73% of universities, librarians participate in decisions together with coordinators, but only 15% have full autonomy in content selection.
According to Natália Cabrini, Head of Strategy for International Markets at Wolters Kluwer Health, the results reinforce the strategic role of these spaces. "University libraries are fundamental for evidence-based medical training and need to be strengthened so that students have qualified access to the information that will underpin their future clinical practice," she states.
Library structure and student profile
Libraries dedicated to medical courses still vary in structure and collection. The survey shows that 39.41% of institutions have libraries exclusively for medicine, 28.81% have specific sections, and 31.81% share spaces with other courses. Regarding the collection, 27.31% of institutions maintain more than 10,000 items related to medicine, 28.81% have between 5,000 and 10,000, while 43.91% have collections of up to 5,000 materials.
Students also exhibit distinct profiles regarding the use of technology. For 51,5% of the libraries, technological knowledge is considered average, while for 47% it is classified as high. To promote progress in this process, regular training is offered in 67% of the institutions.
For Natália, strengthening medical education requires continuous investment in infrastructure and training. "Institutions that offer unrestricted remote access, maintain exclusive libraries, and conduct regular training achieve more consistent rates of student engagement with digital content," she explains.
Another key point highlighted is the appreciation of information professionals, who are responsible for curating and updating collections. "Recognizing the strategic role of the librarian and integrating them into the pedagogical process is fundamental to ensuring that scientific knowledge is always accessible and up-to-date," adds the executive.
The research, completed in 2025, was conducted through an online questionnaire with 22 questions distributed across seven thematic blocks. The sample included public and private institutions from all regions of the country, of different sizes and management models.
The full research can be accessed by clicking on here.
About Wolters Kluwer
Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software solutions and services for professionals in the areas of healthcare; tax and accounting; financial and corporate compliance, legal and regulatory, corporate performance and ESG. We help our clients make critical decisions every day by providing specialized solutions that combine deep knowledge with technology and services.
Wolters Kluwer reported annual revenue of €5.9 billion in 2024. The group serves customers in more than 180 countries, maintains operations in more than 40 countries, and employs approximately 21,600 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands.
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