Perception of undergraduate medical students regarding the use of Information and Communication Technologies

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Information and communication technologies enhance collaboration between students and health personnel worldwide to generate globalized health research and to improve the implementation of public health measures. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perception of information and communication technologies of medical students from a private university in the city of Medellín-Colombia. METHODOLOGY: Descriptive observational study that included pre-med and first-semester medical students who gave their consent. Variables such as sociodemographic, academic, information, and communication technologies skills and perception were included in the study. The information was collected through a survey made in Microsoft Forms®; absolute and relative frequencies were used for the analysis. RESULTS: 69 students participated in the study, of which 69.5% (48) were women; the average age was 17 years. Regarding access to electronic devices, it was found that 98.5% (68) had a cell phone, while 94.2% (65) had their own computer, and 100% (69) had internet access at home. CONCLUSION: Students perceive that due to the pandemic, the use of the Internet for academic activities increased, which impacted the time that was dedicated to digital entertainment activities; furthermore, they perceive that the trend in the use of information and communication technologies leads to a dehumanization of society.