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

Unprecedented access to technology and are comfortable using it

Evidence suggests that they may be different in how they think, communicate and choose to 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 Objectives

Aim: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:What ICT resources are available to students;

What ICT is being used for;

Students' experiences and perceptions of ICT;

How students are being supported;

Are they adequately prepared to access support post-graduation;

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 students with access to technology. Not all countries have this problem.

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 ICTDigital divide

Poor infrastructure

High costs involved

Poor ICT literacy

Lack of technical skills

Gaps in the literatureLittle 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

Results
Demographic data

Population: 1105

Sample: 529

Response rate 48%

Age: 18 - 22 (87%)

Female: 82%

White: 41%

Response rate

Results
Response rate by university

Western Cape: 12%

Stellenbosch: 9%

Other: +/- 7%

Total: 48%

Results
Frequency of use by university

Almost 40% use ICT daily, 35% use it weekly

Results
Reasons for Internet use at university

Assignments: 83%

Academic development: 43%

Personal interest: 48%

Guidance: 23%

Results
Students confidence when using ICT

Results
Use of the Internet at university

Search: 83%

Databases / journals: +/- 50%

Email: 48% (26% for support)

Departmental website: 41%

Experiences and perceptions of ICT

Students who had access to ICT at home (53%) and at high school (48%) were more likely to have used ICT at university

Most students were satisfied with current levels of support ( > 80%)

Most respondents agreed that ICT has a positive role to play in supporting students ( > 70%)

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

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

Reduced levels of confidence using ICT for research

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

Thank you

Contact

mrowe@uwc.ac.za

http://www.mrowe.co.za/blog

Thanks for listening. If you'd like to contact me, here are some details.

Are there any questions?

DailyWeeklyMonthlyRarely

Stellenbosch703000

Cape Town643310

Limpopo504063

Kwazulu-Natal204957

Western Cape21401711

Witwatersrand6224014

AssignmentPersonal interestProfessional developmentSeeking advice

Reasons for Internet use83484323

ConfidentUncertainNot confident

Online search8342

Email8231

Printing7852

Word processing7265

Presentations72113

Research43279

Games4383

Forums34147

Exercise prescription23286

Percentage

Search83

Libraries63

Websites61

Databases53

Journals48

Email48

Departments41

Cape TownKwazulu-NatalLimpopoStellenboschWestern CapeWitwatersrand

Respondants73756810313278

Respondents

Yes529

No576

Gender

Female82

Male18

Column 1

Black22

Coloured24

Indian12

White42