An information technology course in the medical curriculum

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Information Technology in Healthcare
• Curriculum Development

Background:

• Introduction of an information technology (IT) course in the first year of the undergraduate medical curriculum at Leeds University.
• Need to assess the effectiveness of IT training for future medical professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the background, objectives, and content of the IT course.
• To evaluate student knowledge, practical skills, and attitudes towards IT post-course.

Main Methods:

• Curriculum outlining knowledge and practical skills.
• Skills assessment: 95% task accomplishment rate.
• Comparative study of student attitudes and IT usage between course participants and a control group.

Main Results:

• Students achieved a 95% success rate in accomplishing 95% of taught IT skill tasks.
• Independent studies indicated students who completed the course used IT more frequently.
• Students who took the course reported more favorable attitudes towards IT compared to non-participants.

Conclusions:

• The IT course effectively enhanced practical skills and knowledge in first-year medical students.
• The curriculum positively influenced student attitudes and increased the frequency of IT utilization.
• This educational intervention is crucial for preparing medical students for an increasingly digital healthcare environment.