Free software applications for authors for writing a research paper.

Basic computer skills are essential for authors writing research papers as it has the potential to make the task easier for a researcher. This article provides a glimpse about the essential software programs for a novice author writing a research paper. These software applications help streamline the writing process, improve the quality of work, and ensure that papers are formatted correctly. It covers word processing software, grammar correction software, bibliography management software, paraphrasing tool, writing tools, and statistical software. All of the tools described are free to use. Hence, it would help researchers from resource-limited settings or busy physicians who get lesser time for research writing. We presume this review paper would help provide valuable insights and guidance for novice authors looking to write a high-quality research paper.

Computer Skills and Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in a State Tertiary Hospital in Southwest Nigeria.

Adopting change is something that is often resisted, as is often the case in the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) in healthcare organizations. Embracing this will require computer knowledge to handle the system for the management of patients and their care. This study aims to determine the computer skills required for the uptake of electronic health records (EHR) by healthcare workers in an annex of the state teaching hospital, Okela Health Centre (OHC) Ado-Ekiti. The study uses a cross-sectional research design with a structured questionnaire distributed to 30 healthcare workers across seven disciplines working in the hospital. Descriptive statistics of frequency tables and percentages were used to ascertain the relationship between computer skill usage and the adoption of EHR. The majority of respondents were only efficient in Microsoft Word (MW), email, and WhatsApp, with efficiency rates of 63.4%, 76.6%, and 73.3%, respectively. The majority were not efficient in Microsoft Excel (ME) and Microsoft Access (MA), at 56.7% and 70%, respectively. Computer appreciation is an important basis for the adoption of EHR in hospitals.

Does retirement reduce familiarity with Information and Communication Technology?

This paper analyses the effect of retirement on the familiarity with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) of older individuals. We argue that inability to cope with ICT might represent a threat for older individuals' social inclusion. To account for the potential endogeneity of retirement with respect to familiarity with ICT, we instrument retirement decision with the age-eligibility for early and statutory retirement pension schemes. Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, we show that retirement reduces the computer literacy and the frequency of internet utilization for men and women. This finding is robust to the inclusion as control factors of health, cognition and social network indicators, which the literature has shown to be affected by retirement. Overall, the reduction in the familiarity with ICT after retirement tends to be stronger in the long-run.

Computer self-efficacy, knowledge, and use of technological pedagogical and content knowledge among faculty post-graduate students

Background@#Technology has been a vital part of the 21st-century classroom. Because of these fast-changing innovations, this study focused on the relationship between computer self-efficacy, knowledge, and use of Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge (TPACK). @*Objectives@#The study determined the perceived levels of computer self-efficacy and the perceived levels of knowledge (TPACK) among faculty members pursuing post-graduate degree programs, described the use of TPACK as reflected in their actual instructional designs, and determined the correlation between computer self-efficacy, knowledge, and use of TPACK.@*Methodology@#This study was conducted in one government graduate school in Manila, Philippines. The “Computer Self-efficacy Scale” developed by Teoh and Koh in 2010 was administered. TPACK was measured by administering the Survey of Preservice Teachers' Knowledge of Teaching and Technology by Schmidt et al. in 2009. @*Results@#Results showed that faculty members perceive that they have almost a high self-efficacy in terms of basic computer skills. In terms of TPACK, faculty members were observed to be only neutral in knowing technological knowledge. Correlations found were among the subconstructs of Computer Self-efficacy and the TPACK framework, although their relationship cannot be further explored due to limitations of data gathered. @*Conclusion@#Not all computer skills aid the learning experience. For example, results show that using skills like using word processors do not necessarily correlate with methods of teaching. It is recommended to perform a more in-depth analysis of the instructional designs and proficiency in web-based instructions to obtain correlations between constructs.

Do technological knowledge and game-based learning promote students achievement: lesson from Indonesia.

Continuous managing the quality of education in the Covid-19 pandemic has been a unique challenge, and the government has acknowledged to shift from conventional to screen adopting technology. This research attempts to examine the relationship between technological understanding, game-based learning, and students' achievements. This work engaged a quantitative approach with SEM-PLS to gain a deeper understanding of the connectivity among variables. The participants were senior high school students from several places in East Java of Indonesia. The findings indicate that technological knowledge, educational competence, computer skills play an essential role in supporting technology-based learning. However, this study notes that game-based learning in distance learning cannot act as a mediator in enhancing the students' achievement. This study offers policy-makers the use of game-based learning in the learning process during synchronous learning using technology.

The Relationship between Nurses' Training and Perceptions of Electronic Documentation Systems.

Electronic documentation systems have been widely implemented in the healthcare field. These systems have become a critical part of the nursing profession. This research examines how nurses' general computer skills, training, and self-efficacy affect their perceptions of using these systems. A sample of 248 nurses was surveyed to examine their general computer skills, self-efficacy, and training in electronic documentation systems in nursing programs. We propose a model to investigate the extent to which nurses' computer skills, self-efficacy, and training in electronic documentation influence perceptions of using electronic documentation systems in hospitals. The data supports a mediated model in which general computer skills, self-efficacy, and training influence perceived usefulness through perceived ease of use. The significance of these findings was confirmed through structural equation modeling. As the electronic documentation systems are customized for every organization, our findings suggest value in nurses receiving training to learn these specific systems in the workplace or during their internships. Doing so may improve patient outcomes by ensuring that nurses use the systems consistently and effectively.

How to Correct for Computer Experience in Online Cognitive Testing?

Objective: Since computerized cognitive test performance may be influenced by computer experience, correction for this measure might be needed. This study examined how to correct for computer experience by examining its influence on online and traditional tests. Method: 248 healthy adults completed an online neuropsychological test battery and 70 adults completed traditional equivalents of the tests. Computer experience was assessed by a performance-based and a self-report measure. Regression analyses were applied to examine their influence on the online and traditional tests. Results: After correction for demographics, the performance-based measure was associated with online and traditional, predominantly speed-based, tests. The self-report measure was also associated with speed-based online tests but not with most traditional tests. Conclusions: Correcting computerized neuropsychological tests using a performance-based measure of computer experience would be unwise, because this measure also seems to tap into cognitive functions. A correction using a self-report measure might be better and is appropriate.

An E-learning outreach program for public schools: Findings and lessons learned based on a pilot program in Makati City and Cabuyao City, Laguna, Philippines.

The E-Learning Outreach Program (ELOP) is a multisectoral, collaborative, and commitment-driven action research that focuses on providing relevant and useful computer and Internet literacy short courses for public elementary students. This study presents the critical action plans of setting up a pilot e-Learning station in Hen. Pio del Pilar Elementary School in Makati City and in Pulo Elementary School in Cabuyao City, Laguna, Philippines. The school's computer laboratory was converted to an E-Learning station with additional devices and technical support from De La Salle University (DLSU). The study aims to account for a process-based heuristic approach in laying down the different phases of the program, specifically to: (1) coordinate and orient parents, pupils, teachers and school administrators, (2) set-up an e-Learning environment (3) design and write course modules (4) assess learning skills and experience of pupils, and (5) evaluate the program based on research team's observation and results of the focus group discussion (FGD) with teachers and student-participants. In Pulo Elementary School, a pretest and posttests were conducted with results showing that the program has improved participants' e-Learning knowledge and skills except for advance skills in hardware utilization. The participants also showed a strong positive attitude towards the ELOP.

Assessing nurses' informatics competency and identifying its related factors.

BACKGROUND: Due to the increasing use of informatics as an infrastructure in developing the quality of care and patient safety, informatics competency has become a crucial requirement for nurses. AIM: This study was conducted to assess nursing informatics competency, and identify related factors in registered nurses. METHOD: This research is an analytical descriptive study in which the research community included 205 nurses working at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences' hospitals. The researcher-made questionnaire was developed as a data collection tool (α = 98%). The data was entered into SPSS16 software and correlation analysis and regression were carried out. RESULTS: The mean score percentage of total nursing informatics competency was 59.92%. The highest mean score was related to informatics skills (62.98), followed by the informatics knowledge subscale (59%). In addition, informatics competency was positively correlated with self-efficacy (r = 0.27, p = 0.001), evidence-based practice (r = 0.55, p = 0.001) and time spent on hospital information systems (r = 0.16, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Computer skills, self-efficacy, evidence-based practice and time spent on hospital information systems are determinant factors of nurses' informatics competency. Developing nurses' basic computer skills and incorporating informatics education programmes into the curriculum can enhance nurses' informatics competency.

Evaluating Behavioral Skills Training to Teach Basic Computer Skills to a Young Adult with Autism.

The current study evaluated the effects of behavioral skills training (BST) on acquisition of basic computer skills using Microsoft Word®, Microsoft Excel®, and Microsoft PowerPoint® by a 15-year-old male diagnosed with autism. A concurrent multiple-baseline design across computer programs (i.e., Word®, Excel®, and PowerPoint®) was used to evaluate the effects of BST on the acquisition of basic computer skills. BST was successful in teaching the participant to learn basic functions in each of the three programs, and he was able to use the programs to complete schoolwork independently following completion of the study.

Reliability and validity of a self-administered tool for online neuropsychological testing: The Amsterdam Cognition Scan.

INTRODUCTION: To facilitate large-scale assessment of a variety of cognitive abilities in clinical studies, we developed a self-administered online neuropsychological test battery: the Amsterdam Cognition Scan (ACS). The current studies evaluate in a group of adult cancer patients: test-retest reliability of the ACS and the influence of test setting (home or hospital), and the relationship between our online and a traditional test battery (concurrent validity). METHOD: Test-retest reliability was studied in 96 cancer patients (57 female; Mage = 51.8 years) who completed the ACS twice. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess consistency over time. The test setting was counterbalanced between home and hospital; influence on test performance was assessed by repeated measures analyses of variance. Concurrent validity was studied in 201 cancer patients (112 female; Mage = 53.5 years) who completed both the online and an equivalent traditional neuropsychological test battery. Spearman or Pearson correlations were used to assess consistency between online and traditional tests. RESULTS: ICCs of the online tests ranged from .29 to .76, with an ICC of .78 for the ACS total score. These correlations are generally comparable with the test-retest correlations of the traditional tests as reported in the literature. Correlating online and traditional test scores, we observed medium to large concurrent validity (r/ρ = .42 to .70; total score r = .78), except for a visuospatial memory test (ρ = .36). Correlations were affected-as expected-by design differences between online tests and their offline counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Although development and optimization of the ACS is an ongoing process, and reliability can be optimized for several tests, our results indicate that it is a highly usable tool to obtain (online) measures of various cognitive abilities. The ACS is expected to facilitate efficient gathering of data on cognitive functioning in the near future.

Nurses readiness and electronic health records.

BACKGROUND: The importance of the electronic health records in health care well known to everybody, as well as, the role of nurses to provide clinical care; they have a valuable role in successful implementation of electronic systems. The aim of this paper is to assess the nurses' readiness for EHR implementation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This was a descriptive cross sectional study, conducted in 2013. Using cluster sampling, 310 nurses selected from teaching hospitals at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). A self-structured questionnaire was used for gathering data. Data management and analysis was performed using SPSS for windows by using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: 85.9% of nurses, participated in the study. The Microsoft Word (58.8%) was the higher level of skill according to ICDL. The mean of computer skills, knowledge and attitude of nurses towards EHR was 43.4%, 51.2% and 65.2%, respectively. In overall, the mean of readiness of nurses was 57.2%. Establish proper communication among providers and prevent duplications was the most positive attitude and complexity of service delivery was the most negative attitude toward EHR. CONCLUSION: The most obvious finding to emerge from this study is that it should be considered in the education, training and participation of nurses, it should be ensured the level of knowledge and attitude toward EHR and finally, some related courses in Health Information Systems suggested including the curriculum of nursing.

Medical education and information and communication technology.

BACKGROUND: Information and communication technology (ICT) has brought many changes in medical education and practice in the last couple of decades. Teaching and learning medicine particularly has gone under profound changes due to computer technologies, and medical schools around the world have invested heavily either in new computer technologies or in the process of adapting to this technological revolution. In order to catch up with the rest of the world, developing countries need to research their options in adapting to new computer technologies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive survey study was designed to assess medical students' computer and Internet skills and their attitude toward ICT. RESULTS: Research findings showed that the mean score of self-perceived computer knowledge for male students in general was greater than for female students. Also, students who had participated in various prior computer workshops, had access to computer, Internet, and e-mail, and frequently checked their e-mail had higher mean of self-perceived knowledge and skill score. Finally, students with positive attitude toward ICT scored their computer knowledge higher than those who had no opinion. CONCLUSIONS: The results have confirmed that the medical schools, particularly in developing countries, need to bring fundamental changes such as curriculum modification in order to integrate ICT into medical education, creating essential infrastructure for ICT use in medical education and practice, and structured computer training for faculty and students.

Evaluation of Computer Skills in Second Year Premedical Students for Medical Informatics Curriculum / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: To establish a medical informatics curriculum for premedical students. METHODS: The author conducted a questionnaire survey on 202 second year premedical students from two medical schools, one in Seoul and one in Asan. The chi-square test was used to do a statistical analysis comparison of the results from these two school groups. In addition, the reliability test was used for the questionnaire' s reliability. RESULTS: The results of the survey show that computer skills in second year premedical students differ by gender. The results also indicate that differences exist between the two schools, as the curriculums of the freshman year differ between the schools. Moreover, it is observed that more than 60 percent of the subjects have difficulties dealing with complicated problems such as fixing or replacing hardware. CONCLUSION: The survey was conducted to assess the level of computer skills in premedical students at two medical schools. Through careful analysis of this survey, we were able to define the necessary level of computer skills required in premedical students in the Medical Informatics curriculum.