The usage pattern and willingness of undergraduate medical students for including social media platforms as a learning tool in medical education- an online survey

Background: The rapid growth and availability of smartphonesand social media platforms (SMP) have changed the medicalstudents' approach to learn and manage the information abouttheir academic, personal and professional lives.Methods: An online survey was done in undergraduate medicalstudents of PIMS, Karimnagar to collect information aboutusage pattern and perception of SMP, and willingness toparticipate for using SMP as a learning tool in medicaleducation.Results: Total 433 (Females – 275) out of 600 studentsparticipated in the survey from the first year (125), secondyear (151) and third-year (157) MBBS students. Everyone isusing some type of SMP. They find SMP nearly equal to lecturematerials and subject notes as a useful learning tool and therewas significantly increasing trend of perception of SMP beinga useful learning tool from the first-year (79%), second-year(83%) to third-year (92%), (p=0.01). Almost 93% want to seeSMP used at institute level in medical education. Femalestudents (52.4%) are significantly more willing for activeparticipation than male students (43%), p=0.04. First-yearstudents (56%) are more ready for active participation followedby third (48.4%) and second (43.7%) year students, p=0.08.Conclusion: Most students are willing to include SMP inmedical education as a learning tool and ready to participatein different activities if they get the required training. As allstudents have smartphones and efficiently utilizing differentservices on their devices, SMP can become an effective learningtool in medical education.