Unmasking the impact of m-learning on medical undergraduates

Abstract

Introduction: Newer m-learning devices have become an integral part of medical education. Documentation of impact of these m-learning devices on medical education is still conflicting. The objective of the study was to determine the impact of m-learning on medical undergraduates. Materials and Methods: After obtaining Institutional Ethics Committee approval, this descriptive type of cross-sectional study was carried out among first to fifth semester MBBS undergraduates at a tertiary care teaching hospital. A 31 item prevalidated questionnaire was distributed among respondents and responses were evaluated. Results: Two hundred and sixty-six completely filled responses were obtained. Male preponderance was seen. Most of the students spent 2–4 h on mobile phones. 54.51% students had knowledge regarding m-learning. 79.8 students had medical apps on their electronic portable devices. There has been an improvement in the communication skills among respondents due to m-learning. Some disadvantages were also documented in our study which includes distraction from studies and use of other applications. Conclusion: The awareness about change in the pattern of learning among medical students from “bench-side” to “web-site” is the need of the hour. Internet connectivity is the major area of concern to be looked upon for better m-learning. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Medical knowledge, Practice-based learning, and Communication skills.