Evaluation of the factors affecting implantation of mobile learning at continuing medical education program, using the theory reasoned action

Introduction: The improvement of health and medical sciences, and the need for continuous training and retraining of medical graduates have become a necessity. To fulfil this need, the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, with the aim of improving the quality of knowledge, attitude and performance of the medical community, has implemented the continuing education program. Considering the significance and role of e-learning and mobile learning, in particular, this study aimed to evaluate the factors affecting the implementation of mobile learning in continuing medical education programs using the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This study used a descriptive research method based on the TRA model. The statistical population of this research was 2375 employees taking part in the continuing medical education program at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. The sample size was determined 330 according to Morgan table and the data were collected using the stratified random sampling method. The instrument of the study was a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of four domains including attitude, subjective norms, knowledge and mindset, and intention learning. The reliability of the questionnaire, using Cronbach's alpha, was found o be 0.88. Its validity was confirmed by 25 professors in the field. The collected data were analyzed through SPSS software, version 14, using t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficients.Results: There was a significant relationship (p < 0.05) between the intention of mobile learning in continuing medical education program at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and each of the three factors affecting the model. Furthermore, the intention of mobile learning was mostly correlated with mentality of mobile learning, tendency to mobile learning and behavioral control, respectively.
Conclusion: Among the variables influencing the intention of mobile learning (p < 0.01, r= 0.845) based on TRA, mentality and knowledge of learner was the main parameter. Therefore, the managers of the continuing education programs should the learners’ level of knowledge on mobile learning before implementing mobile learning system.