Do students entering higher education know the tools used in computing?: Diagnosis in students of the Faculty of Medicine UNAM

Abstract

Background: There is little published evidence regarding the computer literacy of students entering medical schools in Mexico. Several authors argue that a low level of computer literacy prevents students from using technology to its fullest potential and is detrimental to their education. Additionally, there are still a large number of physicians that lack computer skills. Some variables that have been linked to low computing skill levels include the following: inappropriate training and support by teachers, lack of student motivation, socioeconomic level, gender, and no personal computer.
Objective: The objective of this paper is to identify the level of computer literacy of students and the time of admission into the bachelor of medicine program at UNAM.
Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in first-year students of the Faculty of Medicine at UNAM in the city of Mexico. The inclusion criteria included students who were enrolled in their first year of the program in 2010 and who agreed to participate in the study. We applied a questionnaire with proven validity and reliability created by a group of researchers that was based on a review of the literature and included eight categories of computer literacy. We adjusted a hierarchical linear model to investigate how the school of origin and personal variables such as age and sex were related to knowledge and computer skills. The research protocol for this study was approved by the committee of ethics and research of the Faculty of Medicine at UNAM.

Results: We assessed 1135 students and obtained a response rate of 94.4% of students enrolled in first-year bachelor of medicine program in 2010. The average was 77%.

Conclusions: The reported knowledge and computer skill of the students was sufficient, suggesting that students have the necessary competencies for academic success in undergraduate medical courses that require computer literacy.