Lebanese pharmacists' confidence and self-perceptions of computer literacy: scale validation and correlates.
Computer
Continuing education
Lebanon
Literacy
Pharmacist
Journal
Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice
ISSN: 2052-3211
Titre abrégé: J Pharm Policy Pract
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101627192
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2020
2020
Historique:
received:
18
03
2020
accepted:
07
07
2020
entrez:
29
8
2020
pubmed:
29
8
2020
medline:
29
8
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Most pharmacists agree that continuing education (CE) programs positively affect their practice and increase their knowledge, with computer-based courses being their preferred type of CE (60.6%). The route to using medical e-services and e-learning is not straightforward. High setup costs and time commitments to sustain quality are issues brought up in this respect. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to validate the general confidence with computer use (GCWCU) scale and assess computer literacy and its associated factors among Lebanese pharmacists. This cross-sectional study was conducted, using a random sample of Lebanese pharmacists from all districts of Lebanon. The general confidence with computer use (GCWCU) scale was used to assess computer literacy. This study enrolled 628 (83.73%) pharmacists. The GCWCU items converged over two factors (Cronbach's alpha = 0.716). A higher GCWCU was associated with the ease of access to the Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon e-library (beta = 2.58), owning a tablet (beta = 2.80), being connected for 4 h daily (beta = 2.71), the ease of access to the learning management system (beta = 2.39), holding a PhD (beta = 4.28) or a PharmD (beta = 1.16), and working in hospitals (beta = 2.60). This study showed that the GCWCU is adequate to assess computer literacy in Lebanese pharmacists and identified factors affecting and/or associated with computer literacy. It presented insights into essential computer skills and abilities of Lebanese pharmacists and identified factors associated with their general confidence with computer use in their practice. These findings would help decision-makers and CE providers design learning materials for pharmacists to improve their computer literacy for better practice and patient care.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Most pharmacists agree that continuing education (CE) programs positively affect their practice and increase their knowledge, with computer-based courses being their preferred type of CE (60.6%). The route to using medical e-services and e-learning is not straightforward. High setup costs and time commitments to sustain quality are issues brought up in this respect. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to validate the general confidence with computer use (GCWCU) scale and assess computer literacy and its associated factors among Lebanese pharmacists.
METHODS
METHODS
This cross-sectional study was conducted, using a random sample of Lebanese pharmacists from all districts of Lebanon. The general confidence with computer use (GCWCU) scale was used to assess computer literacy.
RESULTS
RESULTS
This study enrolled 628 (83.73%) pharmacists. The GCWCU items converged over two factors (Cronbach's alpha = 0.716). A higher GCWCU was associated with the ease of access to the Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon e-library (beta = 2.58), owning a tablet (beta = 2.80), being connected for 4 h daily (beta = 2.71), the ease of access to the learning management system (beta = 2.39), holding a PhD (beta = 4.28) or a PharmD (beta = 1.16), and working in hospitals (beta = 2.60).
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that the GCWCU is adequate to assess computer literacy in Lebanese pharmacists and identified factors affecting and/or associated with computer literacy. It presented insights into essential computer skills and abilities of Lebanese pharmacists and identified factors associated with their general confidence with computer use in their practice. These findings would help decision-makers and CE providers design learning materials for pharmacists to improve their computer literacy for better practice and patient care.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32855813
doi: 10.1186/s40545-020-00246-y
pii: 246
pmc: PMC7444245
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
44Informations de copyright
© The Author(s) 2020.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Competing interestsThe authors have no conflicts of interest to report.
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