Occupational therapy students’ technological skills: Are ‘generation Y’ ready for 21st century practice?

Hills, C; Ryan, S; Smith, DR; Warren-Forward, H; Levett-Jones, T; Lapkin, S

Occupational therapy students’ technological skills: Are ‘generation Y’ ready for 21st century practice?

Hills, C Ryan, S Smith, DR Warren-Forward, H Levett-Jones, T

Lapkin, S

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 2016, 63 (6), pp. 391 - 398
Issue Date:: 2016-12-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Hills, C	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ryan, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Smith, DR	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Warren-Forward, H	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Levett-Jones, T https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4279-8957	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Lapkin, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1618-3812	en_US
dc.date.available	2016-03-31	en_US
dc.date.issued	2016-12-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 2016, 63 (6), pp. 391 - 398	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0045-0766	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/98488
dc.description.abstract	© 2016 Occupational Therapy Australia Background/aim: Technology is becoming increasingly integral to the practice of occupational therapists and part of the everyday lives of clients. ‘Generation Y’ are purported to be naturally technologically skilled as they have grown up in the digital age. The aim of this study was to explore one cohort of ‘Generation Y’ occupational therapy students’ skills and confidence in the use of technologies relevant to contemporary practice. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data from a cohort of 274 students enrolled in an Australian undergraduate occupational therapy programme. Results: A total of 173 (63%) students returned the survey. Those born prior to 1982 were removed from the data. This left 155 (56%) ‘Generation Y’ participants. Not all participants reported to be skilled in everyday technologies although most reported to be skilled in word, Internet and mobile technologies. Many reported a lack of skills in Web 2.0 (collaboration and sharing) technologies, creating and using media and gaming, as well as a lack of confidence in technologies relevant to practice, including assistive technology, specialist devices, specialist software and gaming. Conclusions: Overall, the results suggested that this group of ‘Generation Y’ students were not universally skilled in all areas of technology relevant to practice but appear to be skilled in technologies they use regularly. Recommendations are therefore made with view to integrating social networking, gaming, media sharing and assistive technology into undergraduate programmes to ensure that graduates have the requisite skills and confidence required for current and future practice.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Australian Occupational Therapy Journal	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/1440-1630.12308	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Rehabilitation	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Occupational Therapy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Self-Help Devices	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Orthopedic Equipment	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Students	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Video Games	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Computing Methodologies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Internet	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Information Systems	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Social Networking	en_US
dc.title	Occupational therapy students’ technological skills: Are ‘generation Y’ ready for 21st century practice?	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	6	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	63	en_US
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	6	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	63	en_US

Abstract:

© 2016 Occupational Therapy Australia Background/aim: Technology is becoming increasingly integral to the practice of occupational therapists and part of the everyday lives of clients. ‘Generation Y’ are purported to be naturally technologically skilled as they have grown up in the digital age. The aim of this study was to explore one cohort of ‘Generation Y’ occupational therapy students’ skills and confidence in the use of technologies relevant to contemporary practice. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data from a cohort of 274 students enrolled in an Australian undergraduate occupational therapy programme. Results: A total of 173 (63%) students returned the survey. Those born prior to 1982 were removed from the data. This left 155 (56%) ‘Generation Y’ participants. Not all participants reported to be skilled in everyday technologies although most reported to be skilled in word, Internet and mobile technologies. Many reported a lack of skills in Web 2.0 (collaboration and sharing) technologies, creating and using media and gaming, as well as a lack of confidence in technologies relevant to practice, including assistive technology, specialist devices, specialist software and gaming. Conclusions: Overall, the results suggested that this group of ‘Generation Y’ students were not universally skilled in all areas of technology relevant to practice but appear to be skilled in technologies they use regularly. Recommendations are therefore made with view to integrating social networking, gaming, media sharing and assistive technology into undergraduate programmes to ensure that graduates have the requisite skills and confidence required for current and future practice.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/98488