Use of a mobile platform in rheumatology by undergraduate medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract: Introduction: Mobile applications are considered relevant in the health area. As rheumatology is a complex and prevalent specialty in clinical practice, the development of tools that favor learning becomes necessary. Objective: To evaluate the impact of a mobile platform on learning, obtaining the degree of satisfaction with the teaching tool and the effects on different scenarios of educational practice, including performance evaluation regarding questions about the theoretical contents of the platform. Methods: Quantitative, descriptive study, carried out in Christus University Center, located in Fortaleza, Brazil. Questionnaires prepared by the authors were used to assess the impact on the different active methodologies used in the institution and the degree of student satisfaction regarding their use. The estimate of the students’ cognitive gain was measured through pre-test and post-test, using the multiple-choice format. Results: The questionnaires were applied to 71 students to assess the effects and satisfaction. A total of 90 students participated in the pre-test and 32 in the post-test phase. The platform showed a positive perception of learning for 83.1% of the students, with greater impact on lectures, although there was a greater impact on the simulation scenarios in the eighth semester. A good degree of satisfaction was observed in 94.4% of the answers, with improved performance in the tests, increasing from 43.7% to 63.3% (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The development and application of the mobile platform in rheumatology showed excellent results, with favorable effects on the teaching of the specialty, disclosing a good degree of satisfaction regarding its use and better performance on the questioning about the theoretical contents of the platform.

摘要：引言部分指出，移动应用在健康领域具备重要应用价值。风湿病学作为临床实践中复杂且高发的专科，开发助力学习的专业工具已成为必要需求。本研究的目的为评估移动学习平台对风湿病学学习的影响，调研使用者对该教学工具的满意程度，分析其在不同教育实践场景中的应用效果，包括针对平台理论内容相关考题的成绩表现评估。本研究采用定量描述性研究设计，实施地点为巴西福塔莱萨的基督大学中心（Christus University Center）。研究使用研究者自制的问卷，评估机构内所应用的各类主动教学法的应用效果，以及学生对该教学工具的满意程度；通过前测（pre-test）与后测（post-test，均采用多选题形式）量化评估学生的认知增益情况。研究结果显示，本次研究共向71名学生发放问卷以评估应用效果与满意度，共有90名学生参与前测，32名参与后测环节。83.1%的学生对该平台的学习辅助作用持正面感知，其对课堂授课环节的影响最为显著；而在第八学期，该平台对模拟实训场景的教学提升效果更为突出。94.4%的受访者给出了较高的满意评价，学生的测试成绩得到显著提升，从43.7%升至63.3%（P < 0.001）。研究结论表明，本研究开发并应用的风湿病学移动平台取得了优异成效，对该专科的教学产生了积极影响，使用者对其满意度良好，且学生针对平台理论内容的考题表现也得到了显著改善。