Knowledge and Perceptions of e-Health: Results of a Survey of Medical Students in Sri Lanka Sisira Edirippulige Centre for Online Health University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia email: s.edirippulige(uq.edu.au Rohana B. Marasinghe Faculty of Medical Sciences University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka email: rohanabm@yahoo.com Anthony C. Smith Centre for Online Health University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia email: a.smith@pobox.com Yoshikazu Fujisawa Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan email: fujisawa(nuhw.acjp Abstract- The present study investigates the perceptions and attitudes of medical students in Sri Lanka in regard to e-health, level of their knowledge in e-health and their expectations. We also examined the barriers which impede them to develop knowledge and skills in e-health within their medical curriculum. A questionnaire focusing on the knowledge, attitudes and expectations of medical students towards e-health was distributed to all final year students (n=136) at the Faculty of Medicine, Sri Jayewardenepura University, Sri Lanka. The survey was conducted during their regular lectures and completed questionnaires were collected after their classes. 100 surveys (74%) were completed and returned. 43% of respondents stated that they were familiar with the term e-health. 51% rated their knowledge of e-health applications as minimal. 88% admitted that they had no e-health education or training of any kind. Over 80% of all respondents thought that e-health had an important role to play in the current and future health sector, particularly in developing countries. Our survey revealed that respondents had very poor access to computers and Internet use was rare. 77% of respondents admitted that they were not provided with systematic knowledge and skills in e-health through their medical curriculum and identified the absence of formal education in e- health as a serious shortcoming. Despite the fact that the majority of respondents believe that e-health can be a useful tool, particularly for medical practitioners in developing countries, a lack of systematic courses to provide knowledge and hands-on skills prevent them benefiting from this modality. Keywords- e-health, medical education, curriculum development, developing countries Walisundara B. Herath University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka email: wbherathgsjp.ac.lk Mohamed T. M. Jiffry Faculty of Medical Sciences University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka email: mjiffrywyahoo.com Richard Wootton Centre for Online Health University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia email: r-wootton@pobox.com I. INTRODUCTION The healthcare industry in general is under growing pressure to provide services more efficiently and economically [1]. As far as developing countries are concerned, problems and issues associated with the availability of health services are even more daunting [2]. Extreme poverty has prevented governments in developing countries from funding health adequately which has contributed to the poor state of health in these areas. Poor health infrastructure, inadequate facilities and the shortage of healthcare professionals are characteristic features of the health sector in developing countries. Rural and remote communities where the majority of the population live in developing countries are particularly deprived of health services. Addressing health issues in developing countries has become a global concern [3]. In this context, e-health has been identified as one alternative to provide improved services and specialist care in developing countries [4]. The potential of e-health applications, i.e. the delivery of health services across a distance by using information and communication technologies (ICT) is being recognised for its potential, especially for the delivery of health services to rural and remote areas [5]. International organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have acknowledged e-health as a possible alternative to address acute health needs in developing countries [6-7]. 1-4244-0555-6/06/$20.00 (©2006 IEEE ICIA 2006 Page 437