American University

Washington, D.C.
Department of Computer Science and Information Systems

Members of the University Community

Are Invited to the Thesis Defense of:

John Ray Studach, A.A., B.A., M.S., Ph.D.

Candidate for M.S. in Information Systems

Thesis Title:

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE COMPUTING HABITS OF HEALTH

PROMOTION PROFESSIONALS

NCHF Conference Room in Nebraska Hall

March 19 at 10:00 AM

Thesis Committee:

Richard Gibson, Ph.D., Chair

Eugene McGuire, Ph.D.
Anastasia Snelling Ph.D.
 John Ray Studach

Education

A.A. (Physical Education)

Cabrillo College
1969

B.A. (Physical Education & Psychology)

Long Beach State University
1971

M.S. (Health and Fitness Management)

American University
1987

Ph. D. (Education)
American University
2000

Enrollment in Masters Program: Summer, 1996

Thesis Proposal Accepted: Spring, 2000

 AN ASSESSMENT OF THE COMPUTING HABITS OF

HEALTH PROMOTION PROFESSIONALS

BY

John Ray Studach

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to assess some of the key computer-

related usage patterns, habits, behaviors, and attitudes of health promotion

professionals. A non-experimental methodology was used to identify and

explore relationships among several key factors that are related to the

adoption and use of computers and information systems by the leaders in the

health promotion field. A three-part 23-item questionnaire that was tailored

to the population was developed and administered to a sample population of

attendees who were attending a highly-respected annual health promotion

conference. Descriptive and inferential data are reported on 143

respondents or 26.3% of those who registered for the conference and

returned the survey. The results from the general use of computers section
of the survey revealed that the respondents viewed computers as worthwhile

in the workplace and, in general, the user profiles of the sample were typical

of moderate-to-high user populations in several key areas including required

use of computers at work, unrestricted access, and a long history and high

rates of computer use during the work day. The types of software

applications that were used most often were identified. In the section that

focused specifically on the use of computers in health promotion, a very high

percentage of respondents reported favorable ratings for the worth of

computers in health promotion activities with their clients and they indicated

that they used them relatively often with their client for a variety of tasks. Data

on the frequency for several types of use and the relative importance of a set

of barriers to the use of computers in health promotion activities are

presented. The results include an examination and discussion of the

demographic variables from part three of the survey as well as the

relationships among several of the key variables in the study.

Recommendations for further exploration of this topic and areas for future

research that relate to the use of technology for health promotion are

included.