Social media use in medical education: current perceptions and future potential
Year: 2017
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction. The increasing use of social media in medical education makes it important to understand howeducators and students use social media and perceive its benefits. Methods. A prospective, multi-site, survey of medical students and educators was conducted. A 16-item questionnaire was evaluated, including multiple item options and open-ended questions. Results. 867 students from 23 medical schools and 197 staff from 16 participating institutions across the globe took part in this study. Facebook was the most used social media site, with 87% students using it for browsing. The majority of staff (57.0%) used this site largely for social interaction (67.3%). With regards to medical studies, students mostly use Facebook to communicate with peers (81.0%). 40.9% of students thought that social media can be used for discussion or sharing of information, however 6.1% thought that confidentiality issues and sharing inappropriate information is of concern. Respondents saw potential, but had confidentiality and misinformation concerns. Conclusion. Understanding the perceptions of medical schools’ use of social media is essential for both educators and students who wish to embrace its benefits in the current technology enhanced teaching environment.
Source: Journal of EAHIL
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2767322280