A qualitative exploration of the EU digital competence (DIGCOMP) framework: A case study within healthcare education

Abstract

A case study on qualitative exploration of the EU Digital Competence framework within Healthcare Education; it investigates one of the eight lifelong learning key-competences required for managers, doctors, nurses and other health-related professionals. The research was conducted in a Higher Education Institutional setting through semi-structured interviews according to the hermeneutic methodologies allowing for a dialectic approach; it aims at gaining a better understanding of the digital skills which are considered as the most generic and transferable skills, and the training needs of healthcare professionals. The results, defined by 22 themes, express the participants’ experiences, knowledge and level of comprehension of the subject. The research reveals that the DIGICOMP framework is applicable as a generic framework for professional practice. The interview data indicate highly individualised digital competence characteristics and behaviours of the participants.