Experience and confidence with commonly used computer related tasks: survey results of new medical entrants to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya

Abstract

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: In today’s world, skills related to usage of computers play an important role in the academic life of students. A survey was conducted with the objective of comparing the level of experience and confidence on a selected set of commonly used computer related tasks between male and female new entrant medical students to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya. METHODS: Data was collected from 155 first year students in 2017 using a Moodle based selfadministered questionnaire. Chi square test was used in calculating statistical significance. RESULTS: Male students represented 43% of those surveyed. Previous experience with performing tasks related to day-to-day computer usage were all reported at a statistically significant (p<0.01) higher rate among males compared to females: installing software (91% vs 48%), installing a printer (54.5% vs 26%), taking printouts (71% vs 55%), scanning documents (30% vs 13.5%), scanning a pen drive (94% vs 73%) and writing a CD/DVD (73% vs 47%). With regard to those with reported high level of confidence in performing these tasks, males were again ahead of females: installing software (50% vs 12%), installing a printer (27% vs 2%), taking printouts (35% vs 21%), scanning documents (15% vs 3%), scanning a pen drive (51.5% vs 22.5%) and writing a CD/DVD (44% vs 12%). Except for taking printouts and scanning documents, all other tasks showed a statiscally significant difference between the sexes. CONCLUSION: Past experience and level of confidence in frequently required computer based tasks are significantly lower among female new entrant medical students compared to their male colleagues.