A pre-post-test evaluation of a telehealth course for health professions students

Abstract Objectives: This study examined the level of technology proficiency amongst healthcare professions students. Additionally, the study provides an evaluation of the effect of a 7-module telehealth course on the level of adoption and future use of telehealth amongst the future Australian healthcare workforce. Methods. Students from four health-sciences departments at the University of Melbourne, Australia. participated in the study by completing the course and an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included: 12-items on socio-demographic and Internet utilization; 34-items about acceptance and use of telehealth adapted from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) questionnaire; and 22-items about confidence in using the Internet and ICT, adapted from Technology Proficiency Self-Assessment Questionnaire for 21st Century Learning (TPSA-C-21). Results. Twenty-six students participated in this evaluation. Asked about the level of confidence with Internet/ICT, students were confident in their ability to perform the task included in the TPSA-C-21. Compared to baseline, post-test assessments indicated improvements in students’ overall acceptance and use attitudes (p=0.011) and on six of the ten dimensions of the UTAUT2 instrument (p<0.05). Conclusion: This preliminary evaluation indicated that the telehealth course was successful in improving students’ acceptance and use of health technology. The study identified areas in which further development might be required. As such, the course represents a helpful approach for telehealth training among health professions students. Further evaluation with larger samples is required.