DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2016.v04i03.024

Pages: 288-291

The use of computer and information technology is on an escalation. The internet has brought profound changes in the health care delivery systems but little is known about its use among medical students in India. The present study was conducted to estimate the purpose of internet usage among undergraduate medical students and to assess the need for incorporating computer education in medical curriculum. A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among ‘300’ undergraduate medical students of Sardar Patel Medical College, Bikaner during April to June 2014. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for collecting information. Chi-square test was employed to determine the difference in internet utilization by gender. About half of respondents possessed a personal computer. The main use of the internet was for communication among male students, whereas female students used it mainly to get general information (p= 0.0001). The internet was found to be the most preferred medium for getting required information among both the genders. Majority of respondents cited slow internet speed as the major deterrent to using internet. To enable optimum utilization of digital resources by the students, training in computing skills and the availability of requisite facilities are required.