Sains Malaysiana 42(1)(2013): 1–5

 

Audience Response System (ARS) Technology and Dentist Attendance in Smoking Cessation Workshop

(Teknologi Sistem Respons Peserta (ARS) dan Kadar Kehadiran Doktor Pergigian dalam Bengkel Berhenti Merokok)

 

 

R. Abdul Kadir1*, A.N. Amer Siddiq2,3, N.A. Yahya1, A.R. Rusdi2,3, Z. Hazli4 & H. Hussain2

 

1Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

2Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya,

50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

 

3University Malaya Centre for Addiction Sciences (UMCAS), University of Malaya

50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

4Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

Received: 2 December 2011/Accepted: 4 May 2012

 

ABSTRACT

This study assess the effective use of audience response system (ARS), an interactive presenter-audience electronic system, in measuring Malaysian dentists’ interest in attending a less explored non-clinical continuing professional education topic. A total of 157 dentists voluntarily attended a specially designed one-day-four-module workshop conducted in four urban locations. The effective use of ARS in commanding attendance was measured in terms of dentists’ full seminar attendance to completion and opinion regarding the use of the instrument. The retention rate of workshop attendance to completion in the four locations ranged between 76.5 and 100%. Out of these participants, 93.7% said they enjoyed the ARS approach, 92.4% agreed it motivated them to stay on until the end, 97% said it increased their curiosity and appreciates answering in anonymity. The use of ARS technology is effective in enhancing participants’ interest and retention in the workshop, provides interactive learning opportunities and quick feedback and has a potential as an objective instrument in research data collection.

 

Keywords: ARS effectiveness; dentists; Malaysia; smoking cessation workshop

 

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini menilai keberkesanan penggunaan teknologi sistem respons peserta (ARS) sebagai alat penyampai pendidikan berterusan dalam topik bukan klinikal yang kurang diceburi doktor pergigian Malaysia. Seramai 157 peserta telah menghadiri bengkel khas sehari yang mempunyai empat modul di empat bandar besar. Keberkesanan penggunaan teknologi ARS ini diukur berdasarkan keterlibatan penuh peserta sehingga kesemua modul selesai serta pandangan peserta diperoleh daripada soalan-soalan bersabit penggunaan teknologi tersebut yang diajukan melalui pembentangan power-point di akhir bengkel tersebut. Kadar keterlibatan penuh peserta bengkel di keempat-empat bandar didapati adalah antara 76.5% dan 100%. Daripada jumlah ini, 93.7% menyatakan mereka menyukai kaedah ARS, 92.4% bersetuju teknologi ini meningkatkan minat mereka untuk mendengarnya sehingga selesai sementara 97% bersetuju penggunaan alat ini meningkatkan rasa ingin tahu dan menghargai kesempatan menjawab soalan secara sulit tanpa pengenalan diri. Hasil ini menunjukkan bahawa penggunaan teknologi ARS berpotensi positif sebagai alat penyampai dan berkesan dalam meningkatkan minat dan kadar keterlibatan peserta di samping memperoleh jawapan yang cepat serta memberi kesempatan untuk peserta belajar secara interaktif sambil memperoleh jawapan yang cepat. Ia juga berpotensi sebagai alat pengukur yang objektif dalam bidang penyelidikan.

 

Kata kunci: Bengkel berhenti merokok; doktor gigi; keberkesanan teknologi ARS; Malaysia

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*Corresponding author; email: rahimahk@gmail.com