13. COMPUTER AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SKILLS OF FIRST YEAR MEDICAL AND DENTAL STUDENTS AT CMC LUDHIANA

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1 Health Administrator Vol: XVII, Number 1: 54-58, pg. 13. COMPUTER AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SKILLS OF FIRST YEAR MEDICAL AND DENTAL STUDENTS AT CMC LUDHIANA * Dr Rajiv Arora Abstract: This study was conducted to determine awareness, level of use of computers and the use of the Internet for medical research amongst first year medical and dental students at the Christian Medical College Ludhiana. A selfadministered structured questionnaire was used. In this study, 93.3% of the students could access and use the computer. was the most popular of the Internet services used by the students. The results indicate that the students need formal training to use word processor, PowerPoint and statistical analysis. Students need formal training in accessing the medical databases like Pubmed and Indmed. There is a need to expose the students to online testing and training. By knowing the level of technological experience that medical students have when they arrive, CMC can utilize the most appropriate strategies, methods, and resources to help students meet these goals. This knowledge will allow CMC to plan educational activities that address deficiencies in knowledge, such as students having little experience with computer literature searching, and to organize training in response to student needs. Introduction. There have been tremendous advances in the computing and information technology leading to development of computer networks that allow access to vast amount of information and services [1] It is essential for the medical students to be computer literate. Today, many medical schools require students to purchase computers [2], and others are developing strategies for integrating medical informatics into the curriculum [3] The role of information technologies-including using computerized medical records, retrieving computerbased knowledge resources, and understanding the basics of the Internet-is crucial for physicians [4] The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) states that "to practice medicine in the twentyfirst century, medical students... must be given a strong grounding in the use of computer technology to manage information, support patient care decisions, select treatments, and develop their abilities as lifelong learners" [5]. Internet is one of the most important sources of information. The Internet is being used for medical education in diverse ways including teaching, diagnosis, and conduct of medical examinations [6,7,8,9]. It is an important source of information for medical research [10]. This mode of education has several advantages over traditional method of instruction, the convenience of taking a course at a time that fits students schedule and at a place that they did not have to commute to attend [11]. Internet videoconferencing offers real-time interactive classroom online [12]. The information available on the Internet can overwhelm the students who lack the skills for verifying the quality of information available on-line [13]. While several researches have explored the use of computers and information technology by medical students, few of such studies are currently available in India. The aim of this study is to assess the level of computer and Internet use amongst first year MBBS & BDS students studying in CMC &CDC Ludhiana. METHODOLOGY The questionnaire was formulated with inputs from instruments used by the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and Informatics in Medical Education and Development. Ninety, first year medical and dental students of CMC &CDC Ludhiana were Surveyed with a written questionnaire. The aim of this study is to learn the students levels of knowledge, skill, and experience with computer technology to guide the teaching methodology and facilities. The survey was administered after orientation. The absentees were administered the survey separately. *************************************************************************************************************************************** * Lecturer, Department of Physiology, CMC & H Ludhiana. 54

2 RESULTS The objectives, identified with inputs from AAMC Medical School Objectives Project report [14 ], state that medical students should be able to: * Access computer-based instruction for self-study learning in medical education; * Utilize , the Internet, and other online information resources to obtain information quickly and efficiently; * Search the medical literature using MEDLINE, INDMED and other online full text and bibliographic systems; * Utilize diagnostic decision-support systems as an additional method of learning medical diagnosis and problem solving; * Utilize patient information systems to manage medical records in the practice of medicine; and * Develop proficiency in completing computerized examinations. Use of computers Results are summarized in Table % students could use a computer IBM pc or compatible,only 3.3% had used Apple Macintosh % owned a computer and a similar percentage accessed the computers in a cyber café, 12.23% used the institutional computers. Only 6.67% did not access a computer % had no access to portable computers, 13.3% had access to laptops and 5.56% to palmtops. Basic skills Results are summarized in Table 2-30% students had done a computer course before joining the medical college.47.78% could use word processor 34.45% could use power point.88.89% had used the and explored the Internet %had used a search engine. Google (70%) was the most popular search engine followed by Yahoo (65.55%) & MSN (27.77%) Advanced skills Results are summarized Table 3 - Only 3.33% had searched the Internet for medical literature using the public access databases. - Only 4.44% had some form of online training while 28.89% had undergone online testing and evaluation.75% students expressed eagerness to participate in the development of computer based instructional material. Discussion Our results show that access to computers is no longer an issue. In this study, 93.3% of the students could access and use the computer. This figure is higher than 61 % of medical students from Malaysia [15], 80% of final year medical students from Lagos, Nigeria [16]. 84% of undergraduate students in Glasgow, United Kingdom (UK) [6]. And similar to 94% of medical students from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia [7] and 95% undergraduate dental students in Oulu, Finland [8]. Only 14.45% had access to mini computers due to the cost of ownership. With falling prices this is bound to increase. Only 30% had any basic training in computers, yet more than 90 percent could use a computer. In the absence of any formal training less than 50% could use word processor or power point. was the most popular of the Internet services used by the students. Access to this service has increased in recent years in India due to the proliferation of cyber cafes. The results indicate that the students need formal training to use word processor, PowerPoint and statistical analysis. Students need formal training in accessing the medical databases like Pubmed and Indmed. There is a need to expose the students to online testing and training. CONCLUSION: By knowing the level of technological experience that medical students have when they arrive, CMC can utilize the most appropriate strategies, methods, and resources to help students meet these goals. This knowledge will allow CMC to plan educational activities that address deficiencies in knowledge, such as students having little experience with computer literature searching, and to organize training in response to student needs. The information obtained from the survey will make it possible to respond to students needs and to meet the informatics objectives. With the ultimate goal of becoming an all PC facility, one that administers computerized examinations, conducts Internet evaluations, and produces its own high quality, computer-based Self-learning modules. - Only10% had used a statistical programme.1/3rd claimed to have written a computer programme.4.44% had a web page. 55

3 Table 1 ACCESS TO COMPUTERS in percentage N (90) Type of IBM pc or Apple Mainframe None computer used compatible Macintosh Access to a Owned Cyber café Institutional None computer Access to Laptops Palmtops None minicomputers Table 2 Basic skills N (90) Affirmative response in percentage Had a computer course 30 Used word processing program Made a power point presentation Sent or received an message Explored the Internet Used a search engine Search engine used Google 70 Yahoo MSN AltaVista AskJeeves Table 3 Advanced skills N (90) Affirmative response in percentage Performed a computer based medical literature search 3.33 Used a statistical program to analyze data 10 Written a computer program Own a web page 4.44 Participated in any online training program 4.44 Participated in any online testing & evaluation program

4 References: 1. Glowniak JV: Medical resources on the Internet. Ann Intern Med 1995, 123(3): Elam CL, Rubeck RF, Blue AV, Bonaminio G, Nora LM. Computer requirements for medical school students-implications for admissions. J Ky Med Assoc 1997 Oct; 95(10): Kaufman DM. Integrating informatics into an undergraduate medical curriculum. Medinfo 1995;(8 pt. 2): Schneider EC, Eisenberg JM. Strategies and methods for aligning current and best medical practices: the role of information technologies. West J Med 1998 May; 168(5): Swanson AG, Anderson MB. Educating medical students: assessing change in medical educationthe road to implementation (ACME-TRI report). Acad Med 1993 Jun; 68(6 suppl.): S1-S46 6. Jones RB, Navin LM, Barrie J, Hillan E, Kinane D: Computer literacy among medical, nursing, dental and veterinary undergraduates. Med Educ 1991, 25: Mansor I: Computer skills among medical students: a survey at the King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah. J Ayub Med Coll 2002, 14(3): Virtanen JI, Nieminen P: Information and communication technology among undergraduate dental students in Finland. Eur J Dent Edu 2002, 6(1): Hong CH, Mclean D, Shapiro J, Lui H: Using the internet to assess and teach medical students in dermatology. J Cutan Med Surg 2002, 6(4): Hollander S. Assessing and enhancing medical students computer skills: a two-year experience. Bull Med Libr Assoc 1999 Jan; 87(1): Grimes EB: Student s perceptions of an online dental terminology course. J Dent Edu 2002, 66(1): Sear AM, Douglass DB: Use of Internet for real-time instruction in a graduate health services administration program. J Health Adm Edu 1998, 16(4): Ward JPT, Gordon J, Field MJ, Lehmann HP: Communication and information technology in medical education. Lancet 2001, 357: Association of American Medical Colleges. Medical School Objectives Project. report II. Contemporary issues in medicine: medical informatics and population medicine. [Web document]. Washington, DC: AAMC, Nurjahan MI, Lim TA, Yeong SW, Foong AL, Ware J: Utilization of information technology in medical education: a questionnaire survey of students in a Malaysian institution. Med J Malaysia 2002, 57(suppl E): Odusanya OO, Bamgbala O: Computing and information technology skills of final year medical and dental students at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria. Niger Post grad Med J 2002, 9(4):

5 Appendix 1 - Questionnaire Name. Age. M/F. Class. Please take a few minutes to answer the questions below. 1. Which of the following computers have you used? a. Personal desktop Computer (IBM etc.) b. Apple Macintosh c. Mainframe d. None 2 How do you access a computer? a. Owned b. Cyber café c. Institutional d. None 3 Do you have access to? a. Laptop/Notebook computer b. Palmtop/handheld c. None 4. Have you had a course in computer software hardware or programming before joining the medical college. Have you personally: 5. Written a paper using word processing program (MS Word etc.) 6. Made a power point presentation 7. Sent or received an message. 8. Explored the Internet using Internet explorer, Netscape etc 9. Used a search engine to search for information 10. Search engines used a. Yahoo b. google c. altavista d. msn e. askjeeves f. any other 11. Performed a computer based medical literature search If Yes please...specify a. Medlars databases (Pubmed etc.) b. Indian medlars (Indmed) c. Biosis.. d. Any other please specify. 12. Used a statistical program to analyze data 13. Written a computer program. 14. Do you have your own web page? If yes, what is the URL?. 15. Participated in any online training program (in any subject) 16. Participated in any online testing & evaluation program (in any subject) 17. Would you like to participate in the development of computer based...instructional material. Thank you for your participation. 58