Wang Jie, Abdullah Abu S, Ma Zhenyu, Fu Hua, Huang Kaiyong, Yu Hongping, Wang Jiaji, Cai Le, He Huimin, Xiao Jian, Quintiliani Lisa, Friedman Robert H, Yang Li
Department of Preventive Medicine & Fudan Health Communication Institute, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 20032, China.
Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02118, United States of America.
Health Res Policy Syst. 2017 Jun 28;15(1):59. doi: 10.1186/s12961-017-0222-8.
The demand to use information and communications technology (ICT) in education and research has grown fast among researchers and educators working in global health. However, access to ICT resources and the capacity to use them in global health research remains limited among developing country faculty members. In order to address the global health needs and to design an ICT-related training course, we herein explored the Chinese health science faculty members' perceptions and learning needs for ICT use.
Nine focus groups discussions (FGDs) were conducted during December 2015 to March 2016, involving 63 faculty members working in areas of health sciences from six universities in China. All FGDs were audio recorded and analysed thematically.
The findings suggest that the understandings of ICT were not clear among many researchers; some thought that the concept of ICT was too wide and ambiguous. Most participants were able to cite examples of ICT application in their research and teaching activities. Positive attitudes and high needs of ICT use and training were common among most participants. Recommendations for ICT training included customised training programmes focusing on a specific specialty, maintaining a balance between theories and practical applications, more emphasis on the application of ICT, and skills in finding the required information from the bulk information available in the internet. Suggestions regarding the format and offering of training included short training programmes, flexible timing, lectures with practicum opportunities, and free of charge or with very minimal cost to the participants. Two participants suggested the linking of ICT-related training courses with faculty members' year-end assessment and promotion.
This study among health sciences faculty members in China demonstrated a high level of need and interest in learning about ICT use in research and training. The results have important implications for the design and implementation of ICT-related educational programmes in China and other developing countries.
在全球卫生领域工作的研究人员和教育工作者中，在教育和研究中使用信息通信技术（ICT）的需求迅速增长。然而，发展中国家的教职员工在获取ICT资源以及在全球卫生研究中使用这些资源的能力方面仍然有限。为了满足全球卫生需求并设计一门与ICT相关的培训课程，我们在此探讨了中国卫生科学教职员工对ICT使用的看法和学习需求。
2015年12月至2016年3月期间进行了九次焦点小组讨论（FGD），涉及来自中国六所大学的63名从事卫生科学领域工作的教职员工。所有FGD都进行了录音并进行了主题分析。
研究结果表明，许多研究人员对ICT的理解并不清晰；一些人认为ICT的概念过于宽泛和模糊。大多数参与者能够列举出ICT在他们的研究和教学活动中的应用实例。大多数参与者对ICT的使用和培训持积极态度且需求较高。对ICT培训的建议包括针对特定专业定制培训计划，在理论与实际应用之间保持平衡，更多地强调ICT的应用，以及从互联网上大量可用信息中查找所需信息的技能。关于培训形式和提供方式的建议包括短期培训计划、灵活的时间安排、有实践机会的讲座，以及对参与者免费或收取极低费用。两名参与者建议将与ICT相关的培训课程与教职员工的年终评估和晋升挂钩。
这项针对中国卫生科学教职员工的研究表明，他们对在研究和培训中学习ICT使用有很高的需求和兴趣。这些结果对中国和其他发展中国家与ICT相关的教育计划的设计和实施具有重要意义。
