An Assessment of Efficacy of WhatsApp Messenger Application as a Medium for Medical Research Education

Background: Medical students have a dearth of information about research because it is not covered in the current MBBS curriculum. As a result, we chose the theme of ‘Medical Research' to assess the usefulness of WhatsApp Messenger as a teaching-learning medium. There is very limited study on the educational influence of technology modalities like WhatsApp. We conducted this study to determine its efficacy as a supplement to medical research education and to examine students' perceptions about e-learning through the WhatsApp messenger application.

Methods: After receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee, a prospective analytical interventional investigation was carried out. Medical students' knowledge was assessed using a self-designed thorough questionnaire. A series of modules were sent out and discussed in WhatsApp study groups, followed by an assessment of the participants' knowledge levels after the intervention.

Results: Using the paired t-test, the study participants' scores in the post-intervention evaluation (Mean = 10.13, Median = 10, Range = 0-21) were statistically significant higher than their baseline knowledge of medical research in the pre-intervention evaluation (Mean = 6.76, Median = 7, Range = 0-16).

Conclusions: Teachers and students alike are increasingly using WhatsApp due to the increasing availability of economical and user-friendly smart phones in every generation. WhatsApp has the potential to become a natural educational mode, complementing academic learning. To make it a more enjoyable and acceptable instrument for teaching and learning, necessary steps could be made to eliminate the drawbacks highlighted by students.