ArticleBMC medical education2023
Online learning resources and social media platforms used by medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article in BMC medical education, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
What it found
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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
5 citing papers in PubMed, 14 citations in OpenAlex.
- Understanding the ideal resources to study the UKMLA.BMC medical education · 2026Article
- Evaluating Study Techniques for Australian Medical Students During Clinical Placement: A Scoping Review.Cureus · 2026Review
- Towards optimised nutrition therapy after critical illness: a position statement and research framework by the global research initiative on post-intensive care nutrition (GRIP) consortium.Critical care (London, England) · 2025Review
- Article
- Perceptions and challenges of online teaching and learning amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in India: a cross-sectional study with dental students and teachers.BMC medical education · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption to medical students' education. It imposed challenges that required rapid adaptation to enforced lockdowns and remote learning and changed curriculum delivery from in-person to online learning and virtual technology.
objectiveThis study aimed to determine the trends and ratings of using Internet resources and social media platforms by medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
methodsA validated questionnaire was used to explore preferences for Internet resources and social media platforms among undergraduate medical students (years 1, 3, and 5) at King Saud University. The questionnaire comprised three sections- (i) demographic information, (ii) access and use of Internet resources/social media platforms, and (iii) students' ratings and reasons for using technology-enabled learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
resultsA total of 320 undergraduate medical students responded to the online questionnaire. The difference in the number of students using the Internet daily across academic years increased significantly as they progressed in the medical course (p = 0.025). For learning, YouTube and Videoconferencing (e.g. Zoom) were used by 83.1% and 73.4% of students, respectively, followed by WhatsApp 198 (61.9%). For social interaction, WhatsApp, 310 (96.6%); YouTube, 296 (92.8%); Twitter, 288 (90%); and Zoom, 269 (84.1%) were the platforms used by most students. Regarding concerns about the impact of COVID-19 and social isolation, 250 (78.1%) agreed that technology helped them gain a sense of connectedness to their peers. Over half of students, 187 (58.4%) wished that technologies be integrated more often in their courses, as 245 (76.7%) agreed that it helped engage them with classes.
conclusionThe study shows that the use of the Internet and social media resources is increasing at all levels to fill the gap in learning and social interaction because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical institutions should embrace the effective use of Internet resources and use the experience gained and lessons learned in guiding educators on what type of online resources should be created to add value to students learning even post-pandemic.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.