Self-efficacy and new technology adoption and use among trainee mid-wives in Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria

Abstract

Technology has impacted positively on health care delivery and particularly medical personnel have had to embrace emerging technologies in order to provide safe, competent and quality health care. The study investigated self-efficacy for new technology adoption and use by trainee midwives at the school of midwifery, Ijebu-Ode. The study is a survey based on the ex post facto type. Total enumeration technique was used to capture Seventy (70) trainee midwives using a questionnaire. All questionnaire administered were returned and found useful for the study. The study revealed that the level of self-efficacy for new technology adoption by the trainee midwives was high however social media 40(57.1 %), text messaging 36 (51.4 %), downloading of articles, music and videos 30(42.9 %) were the most frequently used technologies either daily or several times weekly. Only 6 (8.6 %) use the internet for information search daily. PowerPoint software, spreadsheet, Blogs, skype, podcasts, audio creation software etc. were less frequently used. Though the perceived level of new technology adoption was high, self-efficacy for new technology adoption was not significantly related to use of the technologies, also level of technology adoption has no correlation with level of use. The paper concludes that trainee midwives may not be capable of adequately providing technology based maternity and reproductive health services after training. The study thus recommends review of the midwifery curriculum, internet access, retraining of tutors and increased exposure/ awareness to emerging technologies.