title: Medical education and information and communication technology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information and communication technology (ICT) has brought many changes in medical education and practice in the last couple of decades. Teaching and learning medicine particularly has gone under profound changes due to computer technologies, and medical schools around the world have invested heavily either in new computer technologies or in the process of adapting to this technological revolution. In order to catch up with the rest of the world, developing countries need to research their options in adapting to new computer technologies.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive survey study was designed to assess medical students' computer and Internet skills and their attitude toward ICT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Research findings showed that the mean score of self-perceived computer knowledge for male students in general was greater than for female students. Also, students who had participated in various prior computer workshops, had access to computer, Internet, and e-mail, and frequently checked their e-mail had higher mean of self-perceived knowledge and skill score. Finally, students with positive attitude toward ICT scored their computer knowledge higher than those who had no opinion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results have confirmed that the medical schools, particularly in developing countries, need to bring fundamental changes such as curriculum modification in order to integrate ICT into medical education, creating essential infrastructure for ICT use in medical education and practice, and structured computer training for faculty and students.
authors.affiliation: Seattle University, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Asefeh Badiey
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Houshyari
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahadorani
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tootoonchi
authors.forename: John Jacob Zucker
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.forename: Roberto A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Peña
authors.forename: Peyman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adibi
keywords: Basic biomedical sciences; clinical clerkship; computer knowledge and computer skills; information and communication technology; internship; medical education (MD program)
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