Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Medical Education and Information and Communication Technology

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Asefeh Badiey Houshyari
. Mahnaz Bahadorani 1
. Mina Tootoonch 1
. John Jacob Zucker Gardiner 2
. Roberto A. Peña 3
. Peyman Adibi 4

1 Medical Education Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Loyola 413, Seattle University, Seattle

3 Loyola 406, Seattle University, Seattle, Washington, USA

4 Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract
Background: Information and communication technology (ICT) has brought many changes in
medical education and practice in the last couple of decades. Teaching and learning medicine
particularly has gone under profound changes due to computer technologies, and medical
schools around the world have invested heavily either in new computer technologies or in
the process of adapting to this technological revolution. In order to catch up with the rest of
the world, developing countries need to research their options in adapting to new computer
technologies. Materials and Methods: This descriptive survey study was designed to assess
medical students’ computer and Internet skills and their attitude toward ICT. Results: Research
findings showed that the mean score of self-perceived computer knowledge for male students in
general was greater than for female students. Also, students who had participated in various prior
computer workshops, had access to computer, Internet, and e-mail, and frequently checked
their e-mail had higher mean of self-perceived knowledge and skill score. Finally, students with
positive attitude toward ICT scored their computer knowledge higher than those who had no
opinion. Conclusions: The results have confirmed that the medical schools, particularly in
developing countries, need to bring fundamental changes such as curriculum modification
in order to integrate ICT into medical education, creating essential infrastructure for ICT use
in medical education and practice, and structured computer training for faculty and students.

Keywords

Basic biomedical sciences
clinical clerkship
computer knowledge and computer skills
information and communication technology
internship
medical education (MD program)
1. Virtanen JI, Nieminen P. Information and communication technology
among undergraduate dental students in Finland. Eur J Dent Educ
2002;6:147-52.
2. Maharana B, Biswal S, Sahu NK. Use of information and
communication technology by medical students: A survey of VSS
Medical College, Burla, India. Library Philosophy and Practice
(e-journal).2009. Availabe from: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/
libphilprac/281.
3. Azarmina P, Coombes J, Melvin R, Miranda JJ, Samuel M, Young
EJW. Assessing computer skills in a Tanzanian medical school: An
elective experience. BMC Public Health 2004;4:37.
4. Karsenti T, Charlin B. Information and communication technologies
(ICT) in medical education and practice: The major challenges. Int
J Technol Higher Educ 2008;5:68-81.
5. Dorup J. Experience and attitudes towards information and
communication technology among first-year medical students in
Denmark: Longitudinal questionnaire survey. J Med Internet Res
2004;6:e10.
6. Hollander S. Assessing and enhancing medical students’ computer
skills: A two-year experience. Bull Med Libr Assoc 1999;87:67-73.
7. Lashof JC, Banta HD, Pengov ER, Gardner PS, Pietz LP. Computer
technology in medical education and assessment: Background
report. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office; 1979.
8. Lahore LL. Community college students and differences between
computer skills self-assessment and objective computer-based skills
assessment. Diss Abstr Int 2008;69:2682.
9. Ministry of Health. Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education.
2011. Available from: http://www.behdasht.gov.ir.
10. Sadeghnezhad T. Iran: ICT use in education. In: Farrell G, Wacholz
C, editors. Meta-survey on the use of technologies in education in
Asia and the Pacific. Bangkok, TH: UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional
Bureau for Education; 2005. p. 59-64.
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 2, Issue 1
Winter 2012
Pages 1-7

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us