Author(s): Ahmad Ghanizadeh, Sharif Mosallaei, Maryam Sharifian Dorche*, Ali Sahraian, Parisa Yazdanshenas
Introduction:
This study aimed to explore the use of e-learning in medical education in
Shiraz, Iran.
Materials and Methods:
A
convenience sample of 300 medical students of
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences was interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The
questionnaire contained a series of questions on the demo
graph
ic characteristics, accessibility
to computer and internet, use of internet for medical education and training, familiarity with
e-learning, and the reasons for use of computer.
Results:
A
total of 270 participants completed
their questionnaires, 30.7% students reported familiarity with e-learning, 21.3% found e-learning
beneficial, 57.6% used internet for education, 43.4% considered e-learning useful for medical
education, and 57.9% students thought e-learning must be more prevalent in medical education.
Most of the students (78.5%) used their personal computer for e-learning, only 6.3% did not
use the computer for education.
Conclusion:
Considering the increasing role of computer and
internet in daily life, the current results indicate that the attitude of the participants towards
e-learning was positive. However, medical students have to be made aware of the advantages of
e-learning. Technological limitations were less compared to reports from the other developing
countries.