In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has become an essential component of health care delivery. However, the integration of telehealth into educational curricula for health care and nursing students remains inconsistent. A recent study titled Telehealth Education in Allied Health Care and Nursing: Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey of Students Perceived Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes, and Experience provides valuable insights into how educational institutions can better prepare students for the telehealth era.
Key Findings from the Research
The study, which surveyed 261 students from various health care and nursing programs, revealed the following:
- High Interest but Low Knowledge: While 69% of students expressed a strong interest in telehealth, only 2.7% reported having profound knowledge of telehealth applications in their profession.
- Importance of Practical Training: Students identified practical training with devices, software, and apps, as well as case examples with various patient groups, as the most crucial elements for integrating telehealth into their curricula.
- Interdisciplinary and Program-Specific Courses: Most students preferred a combination of interdisciplinary and program-specific telehealth courses, emphasizing the need for a well-rounded educational approach.
Recommendations for Practitioners
Based on these findings, practitioners can take several steps to enhance their telehealth skills and better prepare for the future:
- Seek Additional Training: Engage in continuing education opportunities that focus on telehealth technologies and their applications in your specific field.
- Incorporate Practical Experience: Whenever possible, seek hands-on experience with telehealth tools and platforms to build confidence and competence.
- Collaborate Across Disciplines: Participate in interdisciplinary training sessions to gain a broader perspective on how telehealth can be utilized across different health care professions.
- Stay Updated: Keep abreast of the latest research and guidelines on telehealth to ensure you are using the most current and effective practices.
Encouraging Further Research
For those interested in delving deeper into the topic, further research can help uncover additional strategies for effectively integrating telehealth into health care education. This can include exploring the impact of telehealth training on patient outcomes and examining the long-term benefits of incorporating telehealth into curricula.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Telehealth Education in Allied Health Care and Nursing: Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey of Students Perceived Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes, and Experience.
