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Applying the technology acceptance model to explore public health nurses' intentions towards web-based learning: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey

BACKGROUND

In the era of the knowledge economy, public health nurses (PHNs) need to update their knowledge to ensure quality of care. In pre-implementation stage, policy makers and educators should understand PHNs' behavioural intentions (BI) toward web-based learning because it is the most important determinant of actual behaviour.

OBJECTIVES

To understand PHNs' BI toward web-based learning and further to identify the factors influencing PHNs' BI based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) in pre-implementation stage.

DESIGN

A nationwide-based cross-sectional research design was used in this study.

SETTING

Three hundred and sixty-nine health centres in Taiwan.

PARTICIPANTS

A randomly selected sample, 202 PHNs participated in this study.

METHODS

Data were collected by mailing in a questionnaire.

RESULTS

The majority of PHNs (91.6%, n=185) showed an affirmative BI toward web-based learning. PHNs rated moderate values of perceived usefulness (U), perceived ease of use (EOU) and attitude toward web-based learning (A). Multiple regression analyses indicated that only U revealed a significantly direct influence on BI. U and EOU had significantly direct relationships with A; however, no significant relationship existed between A and BI. Additionally, EOU and an individual's computer competence revealed significant relationships with U; Internet access at the workplace revealed a significant relationship with EOU.

CONCLUSION

In the pre-implementation stage, PHNs perceived a high likelihood of adopting web-based learning as their way of continuing education. In pre-implementation stage, perceived usefulness is the most important factor for BI instead of the attitude. Perceived EOU, an individual's computer competency, and Internet access at workplaces revealed indirect effects on BI. Therefore, increasing U, EOU, computer competence, and Internet access at workplace will be helpful in increasing PHNs' BI. Moreover, we suggest that future studies should focus on clarifying problems in different stages of implementation to build a more complete understanding of implementing web-based learning.

Evaluación de dos estrategias de educación nutricional vía radio en Guadalajara, México

La modificación de los conocimientos y de las actitudes desde la óptica de la comunicación persuasiva en salud vía radio ha reportado resultados alentadores para los planificadores sanitarios. El objetivo fue medir el efecto de una estrategia educativa en los conocimientos y en las actitudes, utilizando el radio, en dos comunidades marginadas. Es una intervención educativa vía radio en dos comunidades marginadas y socioeconómicamente homogéneas en Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Se seleccionaron al azar dos comunidades marginadas y se formaron dos grupos de radioescuchas, se midieron los conocimientos y las actitudes sobre contenidos de educación nutricional para la salud mediante un instrumento codificado y estructurado. El primer grupo "A", de 37 sujetos, fue organizado y expuesto a la dinámica del radio foro durante los 4 meses que dura el proyecto. El grupo "B" (n = 33), no organizado, se expuso al proyecto radiofónico según su propia dinámica cultural. La mediana del grupo A para Conocimientos y Actitudes (CA), en la pre medición, fue de 56,8 y, para la pos medición, fue de 74,1 (W: p = -0,05). Para el grupo B, los CA fueron de 53 y 59,2, respectivamente (W: p = -0,05). Así se refuerzan las ventajas del radio foro como estrategia comunicativa en salud en el área de la nutrición humana.