RESUMO
Objectives: To investigate the implementation of teleconsultation and assess the level of readiness for its adoption among various types of healthcare facilities. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved medical doctors working in a public hospital, a private hospital, and community health centers in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. We recruited 29 medical specialists from various departments in two hospitals and 27 heads of community health centers. The readiness items were categorized into sections that encompassed various readiness areas such as core, technological, motivational, learning, work culture, and policy readiness. Data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance and the Kruskal-Wallis test to evaluate differences in levels of readiness across healthcare facilities. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to further assess factors predicting the implementation of teleconsultation. Results: Variations in technological readiness were observed between the community health centers and the public hospital (p = 0.006) and the private hospital (p = 0.007). Differences in learning readiness were found between the public hospitals and private hospitals (p = 0.01). There were also disparities in cultural readiness between the public hospital and the private hospital (p = 0.04) and between public hospital and community health centers (p = 0.01). Logistic regression revealed an association between technological readiness and the use of video teleconsultation (OR = 1.13; p = 0.017). The private hospital was more likely to implement video-based teleconsultation than was the public hospital (OR = 2.68; p = 0.003) or community health centers (OR = 3.13; p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: Significant differences in technology readiness were identified among community health centers, public hospitals, and private hospitals. Future policy implementation should focus on customizing technology use and providing cultural training to help healthcare institutions with different technological readiness levels.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the learning experience of students by limiting their opportunities for face-to-face intercultural exchanges. Given the importance of cultural competence in medical education, there is a need to develop a programme that promotes cultural awareness, but that offers more flexibility in terms of outbound mobility. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an internationalization at home programme and to explore the learning experiences of medical and nursing students from Hong Kong and Indonesia. METHODS: Students were recruited from two universities in Hong Kong and Indonesia. They attended an online internationalization at home programme designed by members of the research team from both countries. A mixed-methods study was conducted using a concurrent triangulation approach. A pre-test post-test design was used to evaluate the effects of the programme on cultural awareness, and four focus groups were conducted to explore the students' experiences in the programme. Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed by T-test and reflexive thematic analysis, respectively. Data were integrated and triangulated using joint displays by comparing findings from both sources. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-eight students from Hong Kong and Indonesia participated in the study. After the programme, there was a significant improvement in cultural awareness. Three themes were identified: (1) learning process: enjoyable, but a desire remains for face-to-face cross-cultural communication; (2) learning outcomes: gained cultural awareness, developed cultural sensitivity, had an opportunity to practice language and learn about new learning styles; (3) factors influencing learning outcomes: facilitators (micro-movie and active communication) and barriers (language barrier, inappropriate time arrangement, insufficient prior briefing). CONCLUSION: This programme achieved the learning outcomes by successfully enhancing the cultural awareness of students during a time of pandemic when outbound student exchanges were not possible. Further adaptations of the programme are required to enhance different learning outcomes.