Information and communication technologies in the teaching of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Abstract Concerns related to the use of technologies in higher education are recurrent in several countries and areas of knowledge. This exploratory cross-sectional study mapped uses and perceptions of information and communication technologies in teaching Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, using an online questionnaire. The study included 87 academics from Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy courses. With regard to the institutional support received during the pandemic for the use of information and communication technologies in the teaching-learning process, 84 participants manifested themselves, of which 13 (15.5%) declared that this support was poor; 40 (47.6%) that the support was fair, 23 (27.4%) that the support was good, and 8 (9.5%) that the support was excellent. Thematic analysis of 87 responses observed the predominance of three themes: positive perceptions about the use of technologies, perceptions related to adversities in the use of technologies and perceptions related to strategies to improve the use of information and communication technologies in the teaching-learning process, highlighting the perceptions related to adversities. It was noted that remote teaching has disadvantages derived from the potential lack of preparation of the academic community for the use of technologies, as well as specificities related to the field of health, such as the necessary student-patient relationship. Thus, the use of information and communication technologies in teaching these areas demands in-depth attention from higher education institutions and the academic community for the adoption, training and evaluation of innovations.