Factors influencing health professions students’ use of computers for data analysis at three Ugandan public medical schools: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

BackgroundEffective utilization of computers and their applications in medical education and research is of paramount importance to students. The objective of this study was to determine the association between owning a computer and use of computers for research data analysis and the other factors influencing health professions students’ computer use for data analysis.MethodsWe conducted a cross sectional study among undergraduate health professions students at three public universities in Uganda using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was composed of questions on participant demographics, students’ participation in research, computer ownership, and use of computers for data analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistics (uni-variable and multi- level logistic regression analysis) were used to analyse data. The level of significance was set at 0.05.ResultsSix hundred (600) of 668 questionnaires were completed and returned (response rate 89.8%). A majority of respondents were male (68.8%) and 75.3% reported owning computers. Overall, 63.7% of respondents reported that they had ever done computer based data analysis. The following factors were significant predictors of having ever done computer based data analysis: ownership of a computer (adj. OR 1.80, p = 0.02), recently completed course in statistics (Adj. OR 1.48, p =0.04), and participation in research (Adj. OR 2.64, p <0.01).ConclusionsOwning a computer, participation in research and undertaking courses in research methods influence undergraduate students’ use of computers for research data analysis. Students are increasingly participating in research, and thus need to have competencies for the successful conduct of research. Medical training institutions should encourage both curricular and extra-curricular efforts to enhance research capacity in line with the modern theories of adult learning.

Does gender role influence the pattern of internet and computer use among physiotherapy undergraduates?

“…All the participants had used computers at the time of the data collection. In this sample, 95.7% had their own computer, this number was higher compared to previous studies (Lee, 2017;Munabi et al, 2015;Ranasinghe et al, 2012;Unnikrishnan, 2008). A study from Ugandan public medical schools found that 75.3% of students owned a computer (Munabi et al, 2015).…”

“…In this sample, 95.7% had their own computer, this number was higher compared to previous studies (Lee, 2017;Munabi et al, 2015;Ranasinghe et al, 2012;Unnikrishnan, 2008). A study from Ugandan public medical schools found that 75.3% of students owned a computer (Munabi et al, 2015). A study by Ranasinghe et al, (2012) showed 77.3% owned a computer.…”

Students’ perspectives of undergraduate research methods education at three public medical schools in Uganda

“…This was a secondary analysis of undergraduate student's survey data from three purposively selected public medical schools in Uganda namely: Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS), Gulu University (GU) and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) [ 16 ]. All these universities have periods for community placement to allow students to learn in real life settings as described in their newly revised competence based curricula.…”