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Online technology in rural health: Supporting students to overcome the tyranny of distance
Author(s) -
McLeod Sharynne,
Barbara Anita
Publication year - 2005
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 - 10.1111/j.1440-1584.2005.00717.x
Subject(s) - online chat , medical education , chat room , perception , psychology , medicine , nursing , the internet , world wide web , computer science , neuroscience
Objective: To determine allied health students’ perceptions of the usefulness of online chat as a support mechanism while on fieldwork.Design: Questionnaire.Setting: Fieldwork predominantly in rural allied health settings.Subjects: Ninety‐seven students studying occupational therapy and speech pathology.Results: Students indicated that the major advantage of using online chat while on fieldwork placement was getting peer support (59%), gaining advice (22%) and having contact with the lecturer (15%). The majority of students indicated that they would like to have an online chat room for their next fieldwork placement (72%) and to use online chat when they were practising clinicians (57%). Although 95% of the students attempted to access online chat during their fieldwork placement, only 67% were actually able to participate. Students had difficulty accessing online chat through hospital and community health settings, so instead had to access it via local schools, homes, universities and libraries to use the technology.Conclusion: The use of online chat rooms was seen to be beneficial to encouraging peer support while on fieldwork for allied health students.