ArticlePloS one2020
A survey on the effectiveness of WhatsApp for teaching doctors preparing for a licensing exam.
Article in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed.
- Combining Problem-Based Learning Methods With the WeChat Platform in Teaching Ophthalmology: Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR medical education · 2026Trial
- What's up with WhatsApp in supplementing surgical education: an objective assessment.Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England · 2022Trial
- Use of Peer-Led Web-Based Platforms for Peer-Assisted Learning Among Canadian Anesthesia Residents and Fellows: Cross-Sectional Study.JMIR formative research · 2023Article
- Graduate and postgraduate educational challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic period: its impact and innovations-a scoping review.Systematic reviews · 2023Article
- Article
- e-PBL with multimedia animations: a design-based research.BMC medical education · 2023Article
- Article
- Nursing students' knowledge and attitude toward diabetic ulcer care and their contributing factors in Indonesia.International journal of nursing sciences · 2022Article
- WeChat as a Platform for Problem-Based Learning Among Hematological Postgraduates: Feasibility and Acceptability Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Article
- Social Media and Health Care, Part I: Literature Review of Social Media Use by Health Care Providers.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Review
- Diagnosis in a snap: a pilot study using Snapchat in radiologic didactics.Emergency radiology · 2021Article
- Learning with lockdown: Utility of whatsApp status-based multiple-choice question discussion on COVID-19 among medical students and teaching faculty.Journal of education and health promotion · 2021Article
- Impact of online communication and type of media formats in enhancing orthodontic patients' knowledge.Journal of orthodontic science · 2021Article
- Analysis of Preparatory Courses for the Practical Component of the PLAB Exam for International Medical Graduates in the UK.Advances in medical education and practice · 2021Article
- Preparedness of the Healthcare Personnel Against the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak: An Audit Cycle.Frontiers in public health · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionThe use of WhatsApp for health professional education is not novel and is described increasingly in literature as an affordable, familiar, and convenient tool for collaboration. Social media technologies for health practitioner education allow the use of text and audio-visual aids, peer-to-peer based learning, and problem-based learning. This study presents a survey on the effectiveness of WhatsApp in doctors' preparation for a medical licensing exam.
methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among one hundred and ninety-four participants of a WhatsApp group preparing for the PLAB exam over a three-month period. A twenty-item questionnaire designed on Google Form was completed by consenting participants on the publication of exam results.
resultsOf the one hundred and ninety-four participants, one hundred and fourteen met the eligibility criteria, 57.9 percent were male and 42.1 percent were female, aged between twenty-four and forty-three years of age ([Formula: see text] years). A total of 88.6 percent of participants passed the exam in contrast to the global average pass rate of 69 percent, while the average score among participants was 131.5 compared to a global average score of 128. Passing the exam was significantly associated with combining the WhatsApp group with the online question bank Plabable (p = 0.001). While the mean age of those who passed the PLAB exam was lower than those who did not pass the exam, the number of years post-graduation had no significant association with passing the exam. A total of 93.8 percent stated that moderators were knowledgeable, 83.3 percent reported that the platform increased their motivation to learn, 72.8 percent felt that the session were organised and easy-to-follow, and 97.4 percent of participants reported they would recommend the PLAB network.
conclusionWhatsApp can be an effective tool for health professional education, using a pre-defined curriculum coupled with organizational structure. This study reported both subjective and objective measures of effectiveness and demonstrated that the use of multiple e-learning resources can lead to improved learning outcomes.
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