Demographic Differences and Attitudes toward Computers among Healthcare Professionals Earning Continuing Education Credits On-Line

Abstract

The use of technology, such as the Web, has become an increasingly popular means for disseminating professional development and continuing education. Often, these methods assume a set of attitudes and skills related to the computer as a pedagogic and communication tool. We argue that it is, however, important to measure the actual attitudes of students participating in such computer-based continuing education programs since such information about attitudes toward technology (technographics) can help to understand the potential success of educational technology programs. The study explores several technographic characteristics of a health professionals participating in an on-line herbal medicine curriculum. The results indicate significant differences in attitudes toward technology between different groups of healthcare professionals, as well as differences based on gender.