Medical students' knowledge and perceptions of e-health: results of a study in Sri Lanka.
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Date
2007-10-03
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Abstract
The present study investigates the knowledge perceptions and attitudes of medical students in Sri Lanka in regard to e health We also examined the barriers which impede them to develop knowledge and skills in e health within their medical curriculum A questionnaire focusing on the knowledge attitudes and expectations of medical students towards e health was distributed to all final year students n 136 at the Faculty of Medical Sciences Sri Jayewardenepura University Sri Lanka Response rate was 74 43 of respondents stated that they were familiar with the term e health 51 rated their knowledge of e health applications as minimal 88 admitted that they had no e health education or training of any kind Over 80 of all respondents thought that e health had an important role to play in the current and future health sector particularly in developing countries Our survey revealed that respondents had very poor access to computers and Internet use was rare 77 of respondents admitted that they were not provided with systematic knowledge and skills in e health through their medical curriculum and identified the absence of formal education in e health as a serious shortcoming