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Evaluation of a Pilot Project to use Computers in a Rural General Practice Term
Author(s) -
Teague Michele,
Talbot Jane,
Ward Alison M.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
australian journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.48
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1440-1584
pISSN - 1038-5282
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1584.2000.00314.x
Subject(s) - laptop , general practice , medical education , term (time) , set (abstract data type) , rural area , rural health , medicine , psychology , family medicine , computer science , physics , pathology , quantum mechanics , programming language , operating system
In 1998, the Department of General Practice (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Australia) ran a pilot project to use computers in a sixth year rural general practice term. Students were provided with a laptop computer to take into rural and remote areas throughout Western Australia during their 4‐week clinical attachment. An email mailing list was set up for course participants to share experiences and complete set learning activities specifically related to rural general practice. An evaluation of this pilot project found that students felt less isolated on rural attachments, course outcomes were improved and rural preceptors were more involved in the programme. The development of a teaching and learning programme that involves the use of computers in rural general practice for undergraduate students has the potential to improve the quality of their medical education.