Table 1 Demographics and background characteristics of the study participants (n = 547)

Demographics

Age (in years)

Mean (SD)

20.7 (1.57)

NA

[minimum, maximum]

[18, 26]

Gender

Male

173

31.6

Female

374

68.4

Year at medical school

First year

140

25.6

 s year

116

21.2

Third year

126

23.0

Fourth year

81

14.8

Fifth year

84

15.4

Access to and use of digital devices:

Have easy access to computers and/or similar digital devices

Yes

539

98.5

No

8

1.5

Have an easy access to the internet

Yes

541

98.9

No

6

1.1

Had any formal computer training and education

Yes

436

79.7

No

111

20.3

Comfortable using computers and/or similar digital devices

Comfortable (very comfortable- somewhat comfortable)

546

99.8

Not comfortable

1

0.2

Comfortable using the internet

Comfortable (very comfortable- somewhat comfortable)

547

100

Not comfortable

0

0

Confident about using information and communication technology

Confident (very confident- somewhat confident)

545

99.6

Not confident

2

0.4

Medical school experience:

Had distance learning at medical school

Yes

531

97.1

No

16

2.9

Prefers to continue some form of distance learning at the current medical school program

Yes

286

52.3

No

261

47.7

Received teaching/training regarding telemedicine in the current medical school program

Yes

83

15.2

No

464

84.8

Medical school curriculum should include teaching and training in telemedicine

Yes

495

90.5

Yes, and it should be included as a compulsory component of the medical school program

108

21.8

Yes, and it should be included as an elective course

387

78.2

No

52

9.5