Use of information and communication technology (ICT) by medical students

Abstract: Introduction: The central topic of the present study is the evaluation of Information and Communication Technology use by medical students, since this relationship has become inseparable from medical training and practice. Objective: To characterize the profile of Information and Communication Technology use among medical students, identifying which are the most frequently used, the possible stimuli and the main impediments to its use. Method: An observational and cross-sectional study was carried out by applying an electronic form on the Google Forms® platform, to students attending from the 1st to the 12th semester of undergraduate medical school. Results: Of the 216 participants, there was a predominance of females (60.6%), aged between 20-24 years (65.3%) and with a family income of less than 3 minimum wages (36.1%). The main device used by the participants was the smartphone (68.1%) and the most frequently used Information and Communication Technologies were text messaging apps (99.5%) and internet browsers (96.8%), while Medication Apps (48.1%) and Specialized Calculators (31%) were significantly less often used. The main benefit mentioned was the possibility of distance communication, while the main impediment was the issue of security. Conclusion: It was concluded that the use of technologies by medical students is quite frequent and varied, but purposeful training, by teachers and students, is necessary for better use of the available technologies.

摘要：
引言：本研究的核心主题为评估医学生对信息与通信技术（Information and Communication Technology）的使用情况，因其与医学教育及临床实践已密不可分。
研究目的：刻画医学生的信息与通信技术使用画像，明确其中最常使用的工具、可能的使用驱动因素及主要使用障碍。
研究方法：采用观察性横断面研究设计，依托Google Forms®平台搭建电子问卷，对医学本科阶段第1至第12学期的在校学生开展调研。
调研结果：本次研究共纳入216名受试者，其中女性占比60.6%，年龄集中于20~24岁区间（占比65.3%），家庭收入低于3倍最低工资标准的受试者占比36.1%。受试者最常使用的设备为智能手机（占比68.1%）；最常使用的信息与通信技术分别为即时通讯应用（99.5%）与互联网浏览器（96.8%），而用药辅助应用（48.1%）与专业计算器（31%）的使用频率显著偏低。受试者提及的主要使用益处为远程沟通的便利性，而主要使用障碍则为安全问题。
研究结论：医学生对各类技术的使用已相当频繁且多样，但仍需师生双方开展针对性培训，以实现对现有技术的更优化利用。