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.