A Preliminary Investigation of the Use of Videophone Technology as a Training Tool for Students Working with Older Adults

The purpose of this study was to examine changes in student's attitudes toward the use of low-cost videophone equipment as a tool for interacting with elderly residents. Students enrolled in four undergraduate social work courses were asked to observe and participate in a social history intervi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of teaching in social work 2004-12, Vol.24 (3-4), p.35-46
Main Authors: Wood, Jennifer A. V., O'quin, Jo Ann, Eftink, Susan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attitude Change
Counseling
Elderly
Health Care Services
Health Services
Interpersonal Communication
Interviews
Mississippi
Older Adults
Questionnaires
Residential Institutions
Satisfaction
Social History
Social Work
Social Work Education
Student Attitudes
technology
Technology Attitudes
Telecommunications
Telehealth
training
Undergraduate Students
Video Technology
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Summary:The purpose of this study was to examine changes in student's attitudes toward the use of low-cost videophone equipment as a tool for interacting with elderly residents. Students enrolled in four undergraduate social work courses were asked to observe and participate in a social history interview with a resident volunteer from an assisted-living facility located in north Mississippi. In order to measure changes in participants' attitudes toward technology, students completed the Student Telecommunication Satisfaction Questionnaire prior to and immediately after observing the interview. It was hypothesized that students would demonstrate a positive increase in their attitude toward the use of technology to deliver health care services after being exposed to such technology. The results of this study provide partial support for the hypothesis. In general, students responded positively to the use of video phone technology as a means of augmenting more traditional forms of communication.
ISSN:0884-1233
1540-7349
DOI:10.1300/J067v24n03_03