Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39423220›Full record

ArticlePloS one2024

Medical students' perception of mobile learning during COVID-19 in Iran: A national study.

Soleiman Ahmady, Nasrin Khajeali, Noushin Kohan, Afagh Zarei, Bikram Biswas, Mohammad Barzegar, Azadeh Kordestani Moghaddam

Abstract read
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Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Soleiman AhmadyProfessor of Medical Education, School of Medical Education and Learning Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Nasrin KhajealiMedical Education Department, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Noushin KohanDepartment of Medical Education, Smart University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.ORCID 0000-0002-8163-742X
Afagh ZareiEducational Development Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
Bikram BiswasDepartment of Educational Administration, Noakhali Science and Technology, Noakhali, Bangladesh.
Mohammad BarzegarDepartment of English Language, School of Health Management and Information Sciences Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Azadeh Kordestani MoghaddamUniversity of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMobile learning has gained significant attention in medical education in recent years. The COVID-19 crisis has further accelerated its adoption. A lack of research on student perceptions of mobile learning during pandemics limits strategies for maintaining education during these times. This study examines the perceptions of medical students in Iran regarding the mobile learning during COVID-19. It is imperative that these perceptions are understood to optimize mobile learning effectiveness in medical education during disruptions.

methodA cross-sectional study was done in 2022 among 785 medical students in Iran who spent summer semester. Convenience sampling was used to select the sample. We used Biswas et al.'s scale for measuring medical students' perceptions of mobile learning during pandemics. Face and content validity was determined by qualitative methods. Internal consistency was measured with Cronbach's Alpha (0.79). Data was collected through an online questionnaire. To analyze the data, descriptive and analytical statistics were conducted with SPSS software at a significance level of p<0.05.

resultsIn total, 1,200 medical students were asked to complete the survey, and 785 responded, resulting in a 65.4% response rate. Mobile learning has been embraced by majority of medical students, with Android devices being used the most frequently. They also have frequent access to the internet, and they rely on a wide range of apps and platforms for academic purposes. Students perceive mobile devices to be highly advantageous for improving subject knowledge (Mean = 4.71±0.58), accessing study materials (Mean = 4.44±0.75), and providing flexible learning opportunities (Mean = 4.40±0.79). Despite this, participants were less confident about the ability of mobile devices to assist with specific study problems (Mean = 3.12 ± 1.28), facilitate class discussions (Mean = 3.33 ± 1.38), and overcome screen size limitations (Mean = 3.32 ± 1.38).

conclusionMedical students in Iran have widely adopted mobile learning and perceive it as beneficial for acquiring knowledge, accessing material, and being flexible during COVID-19. M-learning's effectiveness in specific learning activities must be investigated in further research, and concerns regarding problem-solving, discussion facilitation, and screen size limitations should be addressed.

Indexed as

COVID-19Mobile ApplicationsStudents, MedicalAdultCross-Sectional StudiesEducation, DistanceEducation, MedicalFemaleHumansIranLearningMalePandemicsPerceptionSARS-CoV-2Surveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID39423220
PMCPMC11488732

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.