The importance of digital competencies for healthcare professionals: findings from the equal treatment project

Abstract

Abstract. The “Equal treatment” study addresses the pressing issue of health disparities faced by people with intellectual disabilities, who continue to encounter significant barriers to accessing quality healthcare despite numerous EU policy recommendations. Conducted as part of a European project implemented across Lithuania, Greece, Spain, and Finland, the research evaluated the effectiveness of a training program designed to enhance healthcare professionals' digital competencies. The findings highlight the need for tailored training to foster inclusivity, promote equal treatment, and support better collaboration among healthcare staff and other professionals interacting with people with intellectual disabilities. The study emphasizes the importance of ongoing digital education to ensure healthcare professionals are well-equipped to uphold high-quality and inclusive patient care.

Methodology. A structured survey was conducted within the Moodle environment to collect data. The survey included questions designed to evaluate participants' knowledge and skills before and after the training program. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, including percentage calculations. Statistical analyses were performed to assess differences and changes in participant responses. The following statistical tests were applied: Student's t-test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Chi-square test. To evaluate the effectiveness of the training, average scores before and after the program were calculated. A two-way independent samples t-test was employed to examine the interaction between training and other factors. Results were considered statistically significant when p ≤ 0.05.

Results. Approximately half of the participants reported an increase in their IT knowledge following the completion of the module. This suggests that the training was effective in enhancing digital competencies for a significant portion of the group. However, the limited overall improvement in some areas indicates room for growth in the module’s impact. Adjustments to the curriculum, such as focusing on advanced IT skills or tailoring content to diverse baseline proficiencies, may be necessary to ensure a more comprehensive increase in IT proficiency across all participants.

Conclusions. This study shows that most participants already had a solid foundation of digital skills before training, but there were still improvements across several areas. The training particularly benefited participants in areas such as problem-solving, awareness of IT limitations, and technical skills like file management and security. The most significant improvements were seen in Greece and Spain, while Finland and Lithuania participants generally remained unchanged or showed slight improvements. Ongoing investment in digital education is crucial to make sure that healthcare professionals can keep up with advancing technologies and uphold highest quality patient care.