Strides in Development of Medical Education

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. in Medical Informatics, Assistant Professor, Medical Informatics Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

2 School of Management and Information Science, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

3 B.Sc. in Medical Record, Department of Health Information Management and Technology, School of Management and Health Informatics, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

4 M.Sc. in Medical Education, Medical Education Development Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

Abstract

Background & Objective: Today new technology has provided the visually impaired with equal opportunities for education and access to essential information The use of these technologies by students with visual impairment is vital The purpose of this study was to design an application for health training of the visually impaired and assess their views about its advantages and disadvantages Methods: This was a qualitative study in which a list of mental health information essential for the visually impaired was provided as a result of interviewing 15 blind individuals with different education degrees Subsequently this information was recorded in audio files by a person with appropriate voice and presented in the form of a multimedia compact disc Finally their views were evaluated Results: The results of this study showed that the blind were generally satisfied with the quality of the software and believed it improves their learning However some of the participants believed its content must be better and present more complete information about diseases They believed that this application should be designed for other health information necessary to them Conclusion: Considering the role of information technology and elearning tools in improvement of learning in the visually impaired and the necessity of health information for them trainers and training managers must consider designing and implementing of such tools to educate essential health issues

Keywords

  1. Ramezani A, Pardis M, Rafati N, Kazemi-Moghaddam M, Katibeh M, Rostami P, Dehghan MH, et al. Causes of visual impairment among patients referred to a visual rehabilitation clinic in Iran. Korean J Ophthalmol. 2012; 26(2): 80-3.
  2. WHO. Visual impairment and blindness. [Cited 2014 Agu 12]. Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs282/en.
  3. Khosravi S, Khosravi F. A Study on the Status of the Special Library for the Blind and Visually Impaired of the National Library of Iran and Proposing Solutions for Improving it. National studies on librarianship and information organization. 2010; 21 (1):63-76. [In Persian]
  4. Amin Tahmasbi H, Iagh A, Amouzadeh H. E- Learning Tools and Approaches for Blinds. Proceedings of the 3th National Conference of E-Learing in Medical Sciences; 2010 Feb 16-17; Mashhad, Iran. 2010: 96. [In Persian].
  5. Bocconi S, Dini S, Ferlino L, Martinoli C, Ott M. ICT Educational Tools and Visually Impaired Students: Different Answers to Different Accessibility needs. Springer LNCS.2007; 45(56): 491-500.
  6. Becker K. the Magic bullet: A tool for Assessing and Evaluating Learning potential in Games. Int J Game-Based Learn. 2011; 1 (1): 19-31.
  7. Mirzaei A, Shabani Nia F. Review of E-Learning Modern Systems. Media. 2013; 4 (2): 62-74. [In Persian]
  8. Brzoza P. E-Learning platform for interactive access to multimedia materials in daisy format. Conference & Workshop on Assistive Technologies for People with Vision & Hearing Impairments Assistive Technology for All Ages. CVHI 2007.
  9. Koganuramath  MM,  Choukimath  PA. Learning  Resource  Centre  for  the  Visually Impaired  Students  in  the  Universities  to Foster  Inclusive  Education.  [cited  2009  Oct 8]. Available from: http://crl.du.ac.in/ical09/papers/index_files/ic al-104_215_458_2_RV.pdf.
  10. Sirikham  A,  Sae-Ear  Y.  The  Development  of Low  Cost  Electronic  Books  for  the  Blind.  Int J  Info  Educ  Technol;  2014;  4(4):  332-5.
  11. Atlasi R.  Studying  the  implications  of  elearning  and  virtual  libraries  and  their importance  for  the  Blind.  J  Info  Sci.  2008; 2(13):  28-34.  [In  Persian]
  12. Orrico KB.  Caring  for  visually  impaired patients. J Am  Pharm  Assoc. 2013;53(3):e142-50.
  13. Velazquez R,  Hernandez  H,  Preza  E.  A portable  eBook  reader  for  the  blind.  Conf Proc  IEEE  Eng  Med  Biol  Soc.  2010;  2010: 2107-10.
  14. Bayir  S,  Keser  H.,  Numanoglu  G.  General review  on  computer  literacy  of  visually handicapped  individuals  in  Turkey.  Procedia Soc  Behav  Sci  2010;  9:  1475–80.
  15. Levy  S.  T,  Lahav  O.  Enabling  People  Who Are  Blind  to  Experience  Science  Inquiry Learning  through  Sound-Based  Mediation. Journal  of  Computer  Assisted  Learning. 2012;  28(6):499-513.
  16. Arrigo  M.  E-learning  accessibility  for  blind students.  [Cited  2005  Jun  7].  Available  from: http://medialt.no/pub/utin/Blind%20students. pdf
  17. Rasuli B,  Fahimnia  F.  Visually  impaired users  satisfaction  of  the  services  provided  by the  Central  Library  and  Document  Center  of the  University  of  Tehran.  National  Studies  on Librarianship  and  Information  Organization. 2013;  24  (3):  38-54.  [In  Persian]
  18. Reicker LI,  Tombaugh  TN,  Walker  L, Freedman  MS.  Reaction  time:  An  alternative method  for  assessing  the  effects  of  multiple sclerosis  on  information  processing  speed. Arch  Clin  Neuropsychol.  2007;  22(5):  65564.
  19. Abel  SM,  Figueiredo  JC,  Consoli  A,  Birt CM,  Papsin  BC.  The  effect  of  blindness  on horizontal  plane  sound  source  identification. Int  J  Audiol.  2002;  41(5):  285–92.
  20. Lockerby  C,  Rachel  B,  Biljana  Z.  Enhancing digital  access  to  learning  materials  for Canadians  with  perceptual  disabilities:  A pilot  study".  J  Visual  Impairment  Blindness. 2007;  100(8):1-10.
  21. NLS/BPH  Digital  Talking  Book  Cartridge and  Player  [Internet].  [Cited  2006  Oct  19]. Available From: http://www.loc.gov/nls/businessplan/playerde scription.html.
  22. Simsek  O,  Altun  E,  Ateş  A.  Developing  ICT skills  of  visually  impaired  learners.  Procedia -  Social  and  Behavioral  Sciences.  2010;  2(2): 4655-61.
  23. Jones  R.  Teaching  Internet  skills  to  pupils with  a  severe  visual  impairment.  Br  J  Vis Impair.  2004;  22(3):  84-8.
  24. Nooshinfard  F,  Razavi  S.  Investigation  of Information  Needs  of  Blind  and  Low-sighted Users  in  Kerman  City  and  Their  Use  of Library  Services.  J  Iran  Public  Libraries  Info. 2011;  16(4):  129-49.  [In  Persian]
  25. Siamian H,  Hassanzadeh  M,  Nooshinfard  F, Hariri  N.  Health  Information  Needs  of  Blind people  in  Iran.  J  Mazandaran  Univ  Med  Sci. 2012;  22  (93):  73-81.  [In  Persian]
  26. Amini R.  Health  Needs  Assessment methodology  report  in  blind  veterans  2007. Iran  J  War  Public  Health.  2008;  1  (1):  46-57. [In  Persian]