UTILIZATION AND CHALLENGES OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

ABSTRACT

The use of Information and Communication Technology has become increasingly important in education, as it has played a key role in enhancing students’ quality of learning. The aim of this research work is to assess the utilization and challenges of Information and Communication Technology for Clinical Skills among Nursing Students of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City. The study employed a cross-sectional design method and the instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire. The participants included 175 Nursing students randomly selected from 100 to 300 level in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital School of Nursing. Data collected was analyzed using the statistical Package for Social Science and results were presented in frequency, tables and pie chart. Findings revealed that the mean age of respondents was 21-25 years 161, (94.2%) and majority were females 142, (83%). A higher number of the respondents 98, (57.3%) have moderate level of utilization of Information and Communication Technology, less than half 65 (38.0%) have high level of utilization while less than one third 8 (4.7%) have low level of utilization. The common challenges as reported by majority of the respondents were expensive internet subscription (84.20%), lack of ICT facilities (83.60%) and slow/poor internet speed (76.60%). Information and communication Technology has become an integral part of the nursing practice and should be highly utilized for learning of clinical skills among nursing students. Therefore, students should have a positive attitude towards the use of Information and Communication Technology and actions should be taken by the relevant authorities to tackle these challenges for effective learning of clinical skills by nursing students.

Keywords: Information and Communication Technology, Clinical skills, Learning, Challenge, Students