Utilization of information and communication technology among undergraduate nursing students in Tanta university, Egypt

The use of ICT to enhance learning and teaching has become increasingly important. Information and communication technology in education is a modern, efficient and cost effective process which has created a need to transform how students and teachers from higher institutions learn and teach respectively. This study was conducted to assess the pattern and utilization of Information and Communication Technology among undergraduate Nursing students in Tanta University, Egypt. A descriptive cross sectional design was used for the study where 504 fourth year students enrolled in the 2015/2016 session participated in the study. A validated structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. The results indicated that 80% of the surveyed students utilized ICT in performing their study assignments and research. Majority of the female students (79.0%) self reported themselves as good in computer skills while only one fifth (21.0%) of the male students rated themselves as good in computer skills. Students whose parents had secondary education and above had their total score in self-rating of computer operation skills as significantly higher than those whose parents had below secondary education. The study concluded that majority of the students had good ICT utilization with variation to residence and family income. It is therefore recommended that the university should ensure strict compliance with the rules of e-learning courses for the students and ensure proper application by each student

Awareness and Utilization of Moodle among Students at Nursing Schools in North-Western Nigeria

Background: E-learning has been observed to enhance and support the teaching and learning processes, ranging from the way students use educational materials on the web or server and accessing course work online while following a course on campus to programs offered entirely online. Again e-learning allows for efficient transfer of knowledge anywhere and anytime, regardless of subject matter. It opens up a world of learning unavailable in most corners of the world, while at the same time empowering learners with the information technology awareness and skills crucial to succeed in today's global knowledge economy. Aim: The study aimed at assessing the awareness and utilization of moodle among students at nursing schools in North-Western Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional analytic design was used for this study. Multistage sampling technique was used to select three schools; school of nursing Birnin Kudu, Jigawa state, school of nursing Katsina, Katsina state and school of nursing Gusau, Zamfara state which forms the setting for the study. A total of 307 nursing students were selected and recruited for the study. A structured Self-Administered Questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and the Bonferroni Post Hoc test were used in data analysis which. Results: The findings of the study revealed that most of the students (245 out of 305) have an excellent levels of awareness of e-learning with a percentage of 80.4%. The study also found out that most of the students have a high level of utilization of e-learning with 62%. The study also showed a statistically significant relationship between awareness and utilization of elearning among students at nursing schools in North-Western Nigeria with P-values of 0.001. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it was concluded from the results of the study that the students have an excellent level of awareness of e-learning and have a high level of utilization of e-learning.&nbsp

Knowledge and use of information and communication technology by health sciences students of the University of Ghana

Background: Studies have shown that ICT adoption contributes to productivity and economic growth. It is therefore important that health workers have knowledge in ICT to ensure adoption and uptake of ICT tools to enable efficient health delivery.Objective: To determine the knowledge and use of ICT among students of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Ghana.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among students in all the five Schools of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Ghana. A total of 773 students were sampled from the Schools. Sampling proportionate to size was then used to determine the sample sizes required for each school, academic programme and level of programme. Simple random sampling was subsequently used to select students from each stratum.Results: Computer knowledge was high among students at almost 99%. About 83% owned computers (p < 0.001) and self-rated computer knowledge was also 87 % (p <0.001). Usage was mostly for studying at 93% (p< 0.001). Conclusions: This study shows students have adequate knowledge and use of computers. It brings about an opportunity to introduce ICT in healthcare delivery to them. This will ensure their adequate preparedness to embrace new ways of delivering care to improve service delivery.Funding: Africa Build Project, Grant Number: FP7-266474Keywords: ICT, health professionals, knowledge, student

The ICT basic skills: Contribution to student social media utilization activities

This study aimed to analyze the contribution of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) basic skills to student social media utilization activities. Quantitative research was determined as a method with regression analysis. A total of 144 students selected randomly participated in this research. The research instrument used a five-scale questionnaire, consisting of 32 items of ICT skill instruments and 20 items for social media utilization instruments. The results showed a high level of ICT students' basic skills and social media use activities. There is a contribution of basic ICT skills to student social media utilization activities. The higher of the basic skill of ICT causes the higher the level of activity utilization of their social media. Research recommendations suggest efforts to improve students' basic ICT skills

Access to and Utilization of Information and Communication Technology by the Teaching Staff at Tishk International University

The objective of this study is to assess the usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) by TISHK International University (TIU) teaching staff. The data were obtained from 62 teaching staff from the Engineering, Information Technology (IT) and Education faculties. A standardized questionnaire was utilized to obtain data from research participants. Descriptive statistics, Confidence Interval, One-Sample t-test, Two-Sample t-test, and one-way ANOVA were all used to analyse the data obtained. This facilitated the evaluation of differences in usage by various departments and faculties at the university. The outcome of the study was that there were no differences in usage of ICT regarding the participants’ educational status, ages, gender, educational level, and marital status. However, a significant difference in the number of hours spent using ICT tools was found

Semantics aside : the role of the African Diaspora in Africa's capacity building (case study; Ethiopia)

Also published on a CD-ROM with "Enabling diaspora engagement in Africa : resources, mechanisms and gaps; case study - Ethiopia", IDRC_number 12642

Global Diffusion of the Internet X: The Diffusion of Telemedicine in Ethiopia: Potential Benefits, Present Challenges, and Potential Factors

Delivery of healthcare services presents many challenges for governments in most developing countries. Some of these challenges include financial and human resources issues that might affect governments\u27 ability to manage and transform scarce resources to meet healthcare needs. Telemedicine, a healthcare delivery technology where physicians examine patients from distant locations using information technologies, is reported to be increasingly helpful in meeting the needs of the healthcare sector in developing nations such as those in sub-Saharan Africa. This conceptual study reports on the sectoral adoption of telemedicine in Ethiopia, a sub-Saharan African country. We examine the potential benefits of telemedicine diffusion in Ethiopia, addressing the country\u27s healthcare needs, and discussing the obstacles and challenges. Based on previous literature, as well as experiences drawn from other developing nations, we address three potential factors that could influence the diffusion of telemedicine in Ethiopia: active participation of institutions of higher education, Ethiopian foreign alliances, and government involvement. Although the initial successes are relatively small and involve isolated projects, they have been promising and have set the stage for researchers to investigate prevailing projects so as to gain better understanding of the aforementioned factors. Our study does not claim that telemedicine can solve all of Ethiopia\u27s medical challenges; however, we contend that it is a starting point to reach Africans that live in areas with limited medical facilities and personnel. Hence, our study could have far reaching implications as the world looks to help this country, and by extension, other developing countries, to overcome their medical challenges and join the information society

Curriculum challenges faced by rural-origin health science students at South African medical schools

Background. The current shortage of healthcare workers in rural communities demands attention. The sourcing of rural-origin students (ROSs) has been suggested, but retention of these students in their  chosen degrees is crucial. Addressing the tertiary education challenges that ROSs face is critical to ensuring their success.Objective. To focus on the various challenges influencing throughput of ROSs.Method. This article is one of a series of investigations into various aspects of university life and career choices of health science students. Data were collected at three South African universities by the Collaboration for Health Equity through Education and Research (CHEER) collaborators. Ethical permission was sought from each institution. Health science students at the relevant institutions consented to completing a self-administered questionnaire. The data were analysed on SPSS and ÷2 tests were used to describe the statistical significance of the results.Results. Academic course content was the greatest challenge as perceived by students. Differences  between rural and urban students were significant in all aspects of university life studied. Technological challenges were five times more common for ROSs. Differences between first- and final-year students were not as marked, although the personal challenges and academic course content became easier as students progressed through their degree.Conclusion. Although ROSs face similar challenges as students of urban origin, in some instances these are enhanced and magnified. These students are more likely to find various aspects of university life challenging. To improve the success and retention of ROSs, adequate support structures are essential