Health workers' use of electronic information concerning children with specific communication needs: research

Abstract

Information regarding young children who experience barriers to the development of listening, language and learning is limited in the South African context. Health workers, in particular those involved in intervention with these children, such as medical practitioners, speech-language therapists and audiologists as well as occupational therapists, are in a position to disseminate information to parents and other interested persons, including educators and caregivers. These health workers also have access to and are active users of computers and the Internet. They may therefore benefit from receiving relevant and up-to-date electronic information. The study aimed to assess how these groups of health workers use computers and the Internet, as well as to determine their needs for specific electronic information. The results of this study were applied in developing a website containing relevant information.

In die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks is daar beperkte inligting oor jong kinders vir wie daar struikelblokke is in die verwerwing van luister-, taal- en leervaardighede. Gesondheidswerkers wat spesifiek betrokke is by die intervensie van bogenoemde kinders, soos mediese praktisyns, spraak-taalterapeute en oudioloรซ asook arbeidsterapeute, bevind hulself in (tm)n posisie waar hulle inligting aan ouers asook ander belanghebbendes, byvoorbeeld onderwysers en versorgers, kan oordra. Hierdie gesondheidswerkers het ook toegang tot en is aktiewe gebruikers van rekenaars en die Internet. Hulle kan dus daarby baat om relevante en resente inligting elektronies te ontvang. Die doel van hierdie studie was om hierdie groepe gesondheidswerkers se rekenaar- en Internetgebruik te bepaal asook om hulle inligtingsbehoeftes vas te stel. Die inligting wat hieruit verkry is, is gebruik om 'n webwerf met relevante inligting te ontwikkel.

Health SA Gesondheid Vol.9(2) 2004: 43-53