Undergraduate medical students’ perspectives of skills, uses and preferences of information technology in medical education: A cross-sectional study in a Saudi Medical College

Abstract

Background: Information technology (IT) is widely used in medical education. However, there are not enough studies about IT uses and preferences among traditional and problem-based learning (PBL) medical students.

Aim: To compare IT skills, uses and preferences for education between traditional and PBL medical students’.

Method: A cross-sectional study; a modified Educause Center for Analysis and Research online survey was sent to traditional curriculum 5th and PBL 4th year medical students of King Saud University.

Results: Most of the responding 176 students prefer mobile devices and moderate amount of IT in education. Fourth and fifth year students perceived high academic value of Google (94.2 vs. 86.7%, p = 0.34), YouTube (90.7 vs. 92.2%, p = 0.83) and PubMed (83.7 vs. 86.7%, p = 0.06). More 4th year than 5th year students rated themselves as skilled in learning management system (54.7 vs. 21.1%, p = 0.0001) and Smartboard use (40.7 vs. 23.3%, p = 0.04). Most students rated faculty IT skills as effective. Students agreed that technology helps working faster (95.5%) and make learning creative (85.9%).

Conclusions: More integration of information literacy and IT training in medical curricula is needed to enhance better utilization of full features of IT resources available for learning and problem solving. National multi-institutional studies are recommended.

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 funded by the College of Medicine Research Centre, Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Notes on contributors

Nehal Khamis

Nehal Khamis, MD, PhD, MHPE, Assistant Professor of Medical Education, Director of Faculty Development Unit, College of Medicine, King Saud University, KSA.

Rawabi Aljumaiah

Rawabi Aljumaiah, MBBCh, Internal Medicine Resident, Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Hospital, KSA.

Alla Alhumaid

Alla Alhumaid, MBBCh, Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident, National Guard Hospital, KSA.

Hiba Alraheem

Hiba Alraheem, MBBCh, Family Medicine Resident, King Saud University Medical City, KSA.

Dalal Alkadi

Dalal Alkadi, MBBCh, Microbiology Resident, King Saud University Medical City, KSA.

Cristina Koppel

Cristina Koppel, BSc MBBS, (AICSM), Neurology Registrar, Honorary Lecturer, Imperial College School of Medicine, UK.

Hamza Mohammad Abdulghani

Hamza Abdulghani, FRCGP, ABFM, MMED, Professor of Medical Education and Family Medicine, Head of Assessment Centre, College of Medicine, King Saud University, KSA.