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An investigation of computer literacy and attitudes amongst Greek post‐graduate dental students
Author(s) -
Divaris Kimon,
Polychronopoulou Argy,
Mattheos Nikos
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european journal of dental education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.583
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1600-0579
pISSN - 1396-5883
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0579.2007.00437.x
Subject(s) - medical education , computer literacy , competence (human resources) , descriptive statistics , psychological intervention , literacy , psychology , medicine , mathematics education , pedagogy , nursing , mathematics , statistics , social psychology
An accurate assessment of the computer skills of students is a pre‐requisite for the success of any e‐learning interventions. The aim of the present study was to assess objectively the computer literacy and attitudes in a group of Greek post‐graduate students, using a task‐oriented questionnaire developed and validated in the University of Malmö, Sweden. 50 post‐graduate students in the Athens University School of Dentistry in April 2005 took part in the study. A total competence score of 0—49 was calculated. Socio‐demographic characteristics were recorded. Attitudes towards computer use were assessed. Descriptive statistics and linear regression modeling were employed for data analysis. Total competence score was normally distributed (Shapiro–Wilk test: W = 0.99, V = 0.40, P = 0.97) and ranged from 5 to 42.5, with a mean of 22.6 (±8.4). Multivariate analysis revealed ‘gender’, ‘e‐mail ownership’ and ‘enrollment in non‐clinical programs’ as significant predictors of computer literacy. Conclusively, computer literacy of Greek post‐graduate dental students was increased amongst males, students in non‐clinical programs and those with more positive attitudes towards the implementation of computer assisted learning.