College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdul Aziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Int J Med Inform. 2011 Apr;80(4):251-61. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2010.10.020. Epub 2010 Dec 17.
To describe experiences, lessons and the implications related to the use of conferencing technology to support three drug policy research groups within a three-year period, using the action case research method.
An action case research field study was executed. Three different drug policy groups participated: research, educator, and decision-maker task groups. There were a total of 61 participants in the study. The study was conducted between 2004 and 2007. Each group used audio-teleconferencing, web-conferencing or both to support their knowledge exchange activities.
Data were collected over three years and consisted of observation notes, interviews, and meeting transcripts. Content analysis was used to analyze the data using NIVIO qualitative data analysis software.
The study found six key lessons regarding the impact of conferencing technologies on knowledge exchange within drug policy groups. We found that 1) groups adapt to technology to facilitate group communication, 2) web-conferencing communication is optimal under certain conditions, 3) audio conferencing is convenient, 4) web-conferencing forces group interactions to be "within text", 5) facilitation contributes to successful knowledge exchange, and 6) technology impacts information sharing.
This study highlights lessons related to the use of conferencing technologies to support distant knowledge exchange within drug policy groups. Key lessons from this study can be used by drug policy groups to support successful knowledge exchange activities using conferencing technologies.
使用行动案例研究方法，描述在三年内使用会议技术支持三个毒品政策研究小组的经验、教训和影响。
执行了一项行动案例研究实地研究。三个不同的毒品政策小组参与了研究：研究、教育者和决策者任务小组。共有 61 名参与者。该研究于 2004 年至 2007 年进行。每个小组都使用音频电话会议、网络会议或两者结合来支持他们的知识交流活动。
数据收集了三年，包括观察笔记、访谈和会议记录。使用 NIVIO 定性数据分析软件对数据进行了内容分析。
研究发现了关于会议技术对毒品政策小组内知识交流影响的六个关键经验。我们发现：1）小组适应技术以促进小组沟通，2）网络会议在某些条件下是最佳的，3）音频会议方便，4）网络会议迫使小组互动“在文本内”，5）促进有助于成功的知识交流，以及 6）技术影响信息共享。
本研究强调了使用会议技术支持毒品政策小组内远程知识交流的经验教训。本研究的关键经验教训可被毒品政策小组用于使用会议技术支持成功的知识交流活动。
