Authors : Arti Narde, Madhur Gupta, H. T. Kanade, P. A. Mardikar
Volume : 8
Issue : 13
Year : 2013
Page No : 202–205
Abstract : Background: Though internet is being used worldwide, data on its use by medical students in developing countries is lacking. Hence, the present study was carried out with the objective of assessing use and purpose of internet usage among students of a Medical College in Central India. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was carried out on 300 MBBS students selected by simple random sampling from May 2012- September 2012. Data was collected and analyzed using EpiInfo. Results: The students in the study were of age group 18-23 years. Majority of students (98.2%) used internet by their own without any assistance, 139 (60.4%) accessed internet from home. Principle purpose was to get general information in 73 (31.7%) students. The preferred medium for getting medical information was textbooks in 164 (71.3%) students followed by internet in 57 (24.8%) students. Common search engine used by students was Google 201 (87.3%) and Yahoo 11 (4.8%). Two Hundred and Seventeen (94.3%) students were of opinion that computer knowledge is required for medical education, 140 (60.8%) thought that computer certification should be mandatory for medical education, and 148 (64.3%) students agreed that computer education should be incorporated in medical curriculum for optimum utilization of digital sources by students. Conclusion: The data obtained indicates that the majority of the medical students in the present study use internet but not for medical education, hence computer education should be incorporated in medical curriculum. Keywords: internet, medical education