BACKGROUND
Electronic health care (eHealth) services are an increasing part of health care services. The digitalizing health care service system is creating new skills needs and challenges for medical education. Knowledge of students’ competence levels and abilities is important when teaching is being developed.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the eHealth competencies, abilities, and attitudes of fifth-year medical students in order to develop education to meet the competence needs of the students.
METHODS
A nationwide survey was targeted at all five medical faculties in Finland. An electronic questionnaire was sent to the fifth-year medical students via the faculty administration of each university. In the questionnaire, the responders self-reported their level of competence in regard to the core competencies of eHealth, their capabilities in regard to eHealth, and their attitudes toward eHealth.
RESULTS
187 Finnish medical students responded to the questionnaire regarding eHealth skills, capabilities and attitudes. They self-assessed they had skills in both the use of medical databases (e.g., scientific databases, clinical decision support, electronic counters) and electronic medical-/health-record systems. On the other hand, they assessed themselves as not having enough skills in regard to, for example, carrying out remote consultations or e-consultations.
CONCLUSIONS
Medical students responses revealed that they especially had a skills gap in regard to the applied skills of eHealth. The student’s attitudes toward eHealth were positive, but they felt that the teaching was inadequate in the undergraduate studies related to patient information systems, utilization of the Kanta patient portal, innovation, and communication in the digital environment.