Designing a course for healthcare professionals: examining readiness for adopting emerging technologies into education and practice

Abstract

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, blockchain, virtual and augmented reality are increasingly shaping healthcare education and practice. As the need for digitally skilled healthcare professionals increases, there is a growing demand for structured educational programs. This paper presents a model for assessing readiness to adopt emerging technologies in healthcare education, along with a course design framework that embeds these technologies into professional training curricula. To evaluate students’ readiness for adopting emerging technologies in both theoretical and practical aspects of professional education, a study was conducted at the College of Health Sciences in Serbia. The findings reveal students’ attitudes, perceived benefits, values, and trust regarding the integration of emerging technologies into healthcare curricula. Based on these findings, a structured course with ten modules was designed, aligning empirical readiness factors with pedagogical objectives. The study contributes a replicable, evidence-based framework for integrating emerging technologies into health sciences education, particularly relevant for developing-country contexts aiming to prepare their healthcare workforce for digital transformation. The proposed approach seeks to bridge the gap between traditional healthcare education and modern technological demands, ensuring that future professionals are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to thrive in digitally enabled healthcare systems.