Digital Divide among the Faculty Members of Dental Prosthetics Departments in Dental Schools of Medical Universities in Tehran in 2014

Advances in information and communication technology have had a great impact on people’s lives. Beside all the benefits, they have caused some problems such as digital divide. This study aimed to assess the digital divide among the faculty members of dental prosthetics departments in dental schools of medical universities in Tehran in 2014. This applied research had a descriptive analytical designand was conducted through a survey analysis. The statistical population of this study consisted of all the faculty members of dental prosthetics departments in dental schools of medical universities in Tehran (n=100). Data werecollected using a researcher-designed questionnaire; its validity was confirmed by an expert panel and its reliability (3 = 0.978) was confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha test. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 and t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square test and the Pearson’s correlation test. A total of 82 questionnaires were filled out and returned by the faculty members.The results showed that 97.5% of the study population had access to computers at home and at work; 96.3% had Internet access at home and 97.5% had access to Internet at work; 51.9% (n=42) of the faculty members used these technologies several times a day; 29.6% (highest frequency) reported average daily use ofthese technologiesto be half an hour to an hour. Marital status and academicrankinghad significant effects on the skills of using information and communication technologies. Age and years of instructionwere also effective on technology literacy, the ability and skills to use information and communication technologies and the requirements to use these technologies. Based on the results, marital status, academic ranking, age and years of instruction are effective in use of information and communication technologies by the faculty members.