the use of information and communication technology by south african physiotherapy students michael...
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The use ofinformation and communicationtechnology bySouth Africanphysiotherapy students
Michael Rowe (Msc Physiotherapy)Department of PhysiotherapyUniversity of the Western Cape
Global shift towards the use of ICT in healthcare and education
Social media and networks
Social networking, consumer-related online forum discussion and multimedia on demand
Social networks are their frames of reference
The Net Generation
The net generation has unprecedented access to technology and are comfortable using it
Evidence suggests that they may be different in how they think, communicate and learn
Question and problem
Little evidence could be found on the use of ICT by South African physiotherapy students
Massification and Internationalisation
How can ICT be used to educate and support this new generation of future healthcare professionals?
Aim and ObjectivesAim:To investigate the use of ICT by South African physiotherapy students, as a
means of enhancing their education, as well as the experiences and perceptions of these students pertaining to the use of ICT as a means of seeking and receiving support.
Objectives:1. What ICT resources are available to
students;
2. What ICT is being used for;
3. Students' experiences and perceptions of ICT;
4. How students are being supported;
5. Are they adequately prepared to access support post-graduation;
6. What differences exist?
Background Definition: the use of computers and computer
software to manipulate information WHO, UNICEF have discussed the benefits of ICT in
education and healthcare “Socially acceptable technology”
Benefits of ICT in education
Coursework accessible anywhere, anytime
Promotes active engagement with content
Enhances problem-based learning
Improves information gathering skills
Improves communication between lecturers and students
Resources? What resources?
Some African countries have difficulty providing access to students
E-learning is not the (only) answer
E-learning must add value, not replace
Technology does not solve problems
ICT in healthcare
Continuing professional development is facilitated and students and professionals supported clinically through ICT
Evidence based practice difficult to implement Geographical isolation means poor support and a
lack of opportunities
An estimated 30% of a doctors time will be spent using a computer. Are healthcare students ready for this?
Challenges and gaps
Challenges facing adoption of ICT Digital divide Poor infrastructure High costs involved Poor ICT literacy Lack of technical skills
Gaps in the literature Little evidence was found on the use of ICT by
South African physiotherapy students
Methodology
Study design: cross-sectional, descriptive survey Setting: physiotherapy departments of 6
universities offering the physiotherapy degree Sample: all undergraduate physiotherapy students
who responded Instrument design: self-developed questionnaire,
focus groups, pilot study Data analysis: OpenOffice spreadsheet and SPSS Ethical clearance obtained
Procedure
Identify universities Send advance letters Deliver survey Surveys completed Surveys returned
ResultsDemographic data
Population: 1105 Sample: 529 Response rate 48% Age: 18 - 22 (87%) Female: 82% White: 41%
48%52%
YesNo
82%
18%
FemaleMale
22%
24%
12%
42% BlackColouredIndianWhite
ResultsResponse rate by university
Western Cape: 12% Stellenbosch: 9% Other: +/- 7% Total: 48%
Respondants
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
14% 14%13%
19%
25%
15%
Cape Town Kwazulu-Natal Limpopo
Stellenbosch Western Cape Witwatersrand
ResultsFrequency of use by university
Stellenbosch Cape Town Limpopo Kwazulu-Natal Western Cape Witwatersrand0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
70%
65%
51%
25% 24%
7%
30%34%
40%
60%
45%
27%
0% 1%
6% 6%
19%
49%
0% 0%3%
9%12%
17%
DailyWeeklyMonthlyRarely
Almost 40% use ICT daily, 35% use it weekly
ResultsReasons for Internet use at university
Assignments: 83% Academic development:
43% Personal interest: 48% Guidance: 23%
Reasons for Internet use0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
9042%
24%22%
12%
AssignmentPersonal interestProfessional de-velopmentSeeking advice
ResultsStudents confidence when using ICT
Online search
Printing
Word processing
Presentations
Research
Games
Forums
Exercise prescription
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
ConfidentUncertainNot confident
ResultsUse of the Internet at university
Search: 83% Databases / journals: +/- 50% Email: 48% (26% for support) Departmental website: 41%
Search
Libraries
Websites
Databases
Journals
Departments
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
83
63
61
53
48
48
41
Experiences and perceptions of ICT among students
Students who had access to ICT at home and at high school were more likely to have used ICT at university
Most respondents agreed that ICT has a positive role to play in supporting students ( > 70%)
Most students were satisfied with current levels of support ( > 80%)
78% agree that a strong support system would positively influence their decision to work in a community post
Students more likely to seek support from those most suited to provide it
Methods: face-to-face (95%), email (25%)
What does this all mean?
Students view ICT as a means of accessing information, rather than enhancing communication
Reduced levels of confidence using ICT for research ICT consistently shown to enhance communication,
yet students fail to use it for this purpose Many physiotherapy students have had limited or no
access to ICT resources prior to attending university
What have we learnt?
ICT has been shown to be a feasible means of supporting physiotherapy students
Students have the skills to use ICT to seek support and to enhance their studies, but do not apply them
Inequality in access to technology is still present in South Africa
The use of ICT in communication, research and CPD (lifelong learning), was low
How should we proceed?
Physiotherapy departments should consider developing and implementing a comprehensive ICT strategy
Use ICT to facilitate communication between students and lecturers
Encourage the use of ICT to encourage undergraduate research and evidence based practice
What are we doing about it?
OpenPhysio - free, open content physiotherapy resource
Begun planning of an online, social space for UWC physiotherapy students, called Touch
What are we doing about it?
