The effects of utilizing a near-patient e-learning tool on medical student learning

Abstract

Context: This study aimed to develop a near-patient, e-learning tool and explore student views on how utilization of such a tool influenced their learning.

Methods: Third year medical students from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia were invited to trial a novel, near-patient, e-learning tool in two separate pilots within the ward environment. All participating students were invited to contribute to focus groups which were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed.

Results: Four focus groups were conducted with a total of 17 participants. The emerging themes revealed influences on the students’ learning both prior to and during a clinical encounter, as well as following completion of an e-learning module. The unifying concept which linked all six themes and formed the central feature of the experience was patient-centered learning. This occurred through the acquisition of contextualized knowledge and the facilitation of workplace integration.

Conclusions: Utilization of a near-patient e-learning tool influences medical student learning in a number of complex, inter-related ways. Clinical e-learning tools are poised to become more commonplace and provide many potential benefits to student learning. However, incorporation of technology into clinical encounters requires specific skills which should form an integral part of primary medical training.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr Laila Rotstein for her contribution to the design and content of the e-tool and Dr. Darshini Ayton for her advice on qualitative research methods. Dr Michael Cai was instrumental in designing the e-tool and Mr Marcus Leonard in its programming. Dr Stuart Lee provided invaluable advice in preparing the manuscript.

Declaration of interest: RS has co-authored a textbook for medical students from which royalties are derived. VT and FF have no interests to declare. The AXM e-tool and research was wholly funded by the Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health. Finally we wish to acknowledge the support of the Alfred Health Information Technology Department.

Ethical approval

The project received ethical approval from the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee.