Impacts of Internet digital objects on clinical learning of undergraduate students

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Various digital learning objects (DLOs) are available in the worldwide web, showing the flow of clinical procedures. It is unclear how these materials foster or hamper students’ acquisition of clinical competency. This study aimed to investigate the impact and trustworthiness of openly accessible Internet DLOs on clinical learning of undergraduate students across clinical disciplines (dentistry, medicine, and nursing). METHOD: A junior year and a senior year were selected from each undergraduate clinical degree program (BDS, MBBS, and BNurs) of University of Hong Kong. All students were approached for a questionnaire survey collecting information on their personal and educational backgrounds and experience and views on using Internet DLOs in their clinical learning. The questionnaire design was informed by findings of six focus groups. RESULT: 439 (56.1%) students completed the questionnaire. Almost all (97.5%) respondents learnt a variety of clinical procedures through Internet DLOs. More nursing students (87.8%) learnt preventive measures through Internet DLOs, with a lower percentage in dental (45.4%) and medical students (46.3%) (both p<0.001). Three quarters (77.7%) of students accessed DLOs through public search engines; 93.2% watched YouTube videos for learning clinical procedures. Students often shared DLOs with classmates (63.7%), but rarely discussed with teachers (12.4%). The accuracy, usefulness, and importance of Internet DLOs were rated as 6.85, 7.27, and 7.13, respectively, out of a highest score of 10. CONCLUSION: Self-exploration of DLOs in the unrestricted Internet environment is extremely common among the current e-generation learners and was regarded by students across clinical faculties as a trustable, useful, and important supplement to formal learning in the planned curriculum. This unstoppable trend calls for a transformation of educators’ role from dispensing knowledge to guidance and support.