Access and Use of Information Technology by Human Service Providers

Robert Hughes, Eunjee Joo, Shannon R. Zentall, Kerrie Ulishney

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Increasing amounts of scientific and professional information are available through information technology, therefore, it is important to understand the extent to which human service providers have access to these capabilities and whether they find them useful. A random sample of one-hundred and forty-nine human service providers in Ohio were surveyed by mail about their use of information technology. Findings indicate that about seventy-five percent had computers on their desks. About fifty-three percent had access to e-mail and fifty-one percent had access to the WWW from their own computers. Those providers who were in direct service were less likely than those in administration to have computer access. Across the entire sample, human service providers strongly agreed with the need to use Internet for educating clients and professional development. In general, providers reported limited access to many types of information and strong needs for assistance in developing information technology skills. Suggestions for future directions are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-16
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Technology in Human Services
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Computer usage
  • Human service providers
  • Internet
  • Professional development
  • World wide web

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • General Social Sciences
  • Computer Networks and Communications

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