An electronic survey of preferred podcast format and content requirements among trainee emergency medicine specialists in four Southern African universities
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
This study aims to explore the desired content, format and delivery characteristics of a potential educational, context- specific Southern African EM podcast, by investigating current podcast usages, trends and preferences among Southern African EM registrars of varying seniority. Methods: We developed an electronic survey - using a combination of existing literature, context-specific specialist-training guidance, and input from local experts – exploring preferred podcast characteristics among EM registrars from four Southern African universities. Results: The study’s response rate was 75%, with 24 of the 39 respondents being junior
registrars. Ninety-four percent (94%) of respondents used EM podcasts as an educational medium: 64% predominantly using pod- casts to supplement a personal EM study program. The primary mode of accessing podcasts was via personal mobile devices (84%). Additionally, respondents preferred a shorter podcast duration (5–15 min), favoured multimedia podcasts (56%) and showed an apparent aversion toward recorded faculty lectures (5%). Eighty-two percent (82%) of respondents preferred context-specific podcast content, with popular topics including toxi- cology (95%), cardiovascular emergencies (79%) and medico-legal matters (74%). Just-in-Time learning proved an unpopular learning strategy in our study population, despite its substantial educational value.
Conclusion: Podcast-usage proved to be near-ubiquitous among the studied Southern African
EM registrars. Quintessentially, future context-specific podcast design should cater for mobile device-use, shorter duration podcasts, more video content, context-specific topics, and content optimised for both Just-in-Time learning.
Description
CITATION: Ekambaram, K., et al. 2021. An electronic survey of preferred podcast format and content requirements among trainee emergency medicine specialists in four Southern African universities. African Journal of Emergency Medicine, 11(1): 3-9, doi:10.1016/j.afjem.2020.10.014.
The original publication is available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/african-journal-of-emergency-medicine
The original publication is available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/african-journal-of-emergency-medicine
Keywords
Distance education -- Education, Higher -- South Africa, Computer-assisted instruction -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa, Web-based instruction -- Education, Higher -- South Africa
Citation
Ekambaram, K., et al. 2021. An electronic survey of preferred podcast format and content requirements among trainee emergency medicine specialists in four Southern African universities. African Journal of Emergency Medicine, 11(1): 3-9, doi:10.1016/j.afjem.2020.10.014