The pattern of social media use and its association with academic performance among medical students

Abstract

Background: There are concerns that the use of social media (SM) among medical students could affect academic performance. The objectives of the study were to investigate the pattern and reasons for SM use and their association with academic performance.

Methods: A stratified random sample, frequency distribution and comparison of categorical variables with Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used.

Results: Of the 97% who responded, 98% used SM. The most popular were Whatsapp (87.8%), You tube (60.8%) and Twitter (51.8%) for general use; while You tube (83.5%), Whatsapp (35.5%) and Twitter (35.3%) for learning. For general use, there was a significant higher number of visits to You tube and Facebook among male students, while the reverse was true for Instagram and Path. Around 71% visited SM >4 times/day and 55% spent 1–4 hours/day. The main reasons for SM use were entertainment (95.8%), staying up-to-date with news (88.3%), and socializing (85.5%); for academic studies (40%). There was no significant association between Grade Point Average and the frequency of daily SM use or use during lectures.

Conclusions: While almost all the students used SM, only a minority used them for academic purposes. SM use was not associated with academic performance.

Acknowledgments

The Saudi Supplement on Medical Education is sponsored and supported by Al Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by King Saud University, Deanship of Scientific Research, Research Chair.

Notes on contributors

Eiad AlFaris

Eiad AlFaris, MMed, MRCGP, is Professor of Family Medicine, supervisor of King Saud University chair for Medical Education Research and Development, and Head of the examination committee of Arab board Family medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Farhana Irfan

Farhana Irfan, FRCGP, MCPS, is an Assistant Professor, Chair of Medical Education Research and Development, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Gominda Ponnamperuma

Gominda Ponnamperuma, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in Medical Education, Medical Education Development and Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Amr Jamal

Amr Jamal, SBFM, ABFM, is an Associate Professor and Consultant Family Physician and Head of Medical Informatics and e-Learning Unit, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Cees Van der Vleuten

Cees van der Vleuten, PhD, is Professor of Education, Scientific Director of the School of Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Educational Development and Research Maastricht University, the Netherlands.

Nassr Al Maflehi

Nassr Al Maflehi, MSc, is a Lecturer, Faculty PDS Department, Bio statistical Consultant CDRC, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Sairaa Al-Qeas

Sairaa Saeed Al-Qais AlQahtani, MBBS, is a medical intern.

Awtan Alenezi

Awtan Alenezi, MBBS, is a medical intern.

Mashael Alrowaished

Mashael Alrowaished, MBBS, is a medical intern.

Reem Alsalman

Reem Alsalman, MBBS, is a medical intern.

Abdullah M. A. Ahmed

Abdullah M. A. Ahmed, BSc, is a Pharmacist and Assistant Researcher, Chair of Medical Education Research and Development, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.