Training needs of telemedicine staff – a pilot study
Creators: name: Z. Zayapragassarazan
name: Kumar, Santosh
Publisher: name: F1000Research
Year: 2016

description: Introduction:<br>Telemedicine is a fast growing technology in medical and allied health sciences. Advancements in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have led to the introduction of newer techniques and technologies in telemedicine. Studies have shown that lack of knowledge of skills and lack of availability of formal training in telemedicine affects the quality of telemedicine practice among the health professionals and the growth of telemedicine.  Training the project staff is an important component of telemedicine. Introduction of newer techniques and technologies in telemedicine has made telemedicine a challenge among the health professionals and has raised the question of how to train the health professionals in telemedicine. Training programmes aimed at developing knowledge, attitude and skills is important to develop adequate qualified manpower in the field of telemedicine.  Assessment of training needs of telemedicine practitioners and telemedicine project staff will help in the effective implementation of any telemedicine training programme.<br> <br>Aim and Objectives:<br>To assess the training needs of telemedicine practioners and telemedicine project staff working in the telemedicine units.<br> <br>Material and Methods:<br>Population: Telemedicine practioners and telemedicine project staff working in the telemedicine unit of various hospitals in India.<br>Sample: Sampling was done based on the e-mail databases collected through different sources such as websites of organizations, journals, conference proceedings, personal contacts and through references. 92 subjects formed the sample of this study.<br>Tool: A self administered ‘Telemedicine Training Needs Assessment Tool’ containing 12 items with demographic details was constructed by the investigators for conducting this pilot study.<br>Administration of tool: 178 samples were identified for the present study. The tool was sent to the e-mail IDs of the selected samples with a request to participate in the study with their consent. Only 92 responded by returning the filled in tool and the data of these 92 subjects were taken up for analysis and interpretation.<br>Scoring of tool: The percentage score of high, moderate and low level of training needs were calculated for the whole sample.<br><br>Results:<br>The responses revealed the mixed expectations with regard to their training in telemedicine.  About 28% of the respondents were found to possess high level of competencies, 43% possess moderate level of competencies and 29% possessed low level of competencies with respect to telemedicine and its related activities.  Only 8% of the respondents have undergone formal training in telemedicine.  28% of the respondents are faculties in teaching hospitals, 64% are technical personnel handling telemedicine activities and 8% are from other work environment. Thus the study revealed that a maximum number of the respondents require training in telemedicine. 60% have expressed interest in adopting this new technology for their future career.  Respondents who are less than 45 years of age have shown more interest and 57% of the respondents have expressed interest in attending training programmes and acquire hands-on experience on telemedicine.<br> <br>Conclusion:<br>The findings of the study suggest that although the respondents of the present study are involved in telemedicine related works three-fourth of them requires formal training in the telemedicine.  The finding of the study would help the policy makers to make policies measures on developing training strategies at international standards to train committed health professional for the effective implementation of telemedicine to make our vision HEALTH FOR ALL come true. It is also important that proper hospital training programmes should be organized for all medical, paramedical and other health care providers, which will assist in future utilization of telemedicine.