E-Learning in Medicine

The share of e-learning in medicine is increasing

For his article on the growing share of e-learning in medical education, CHECK.point eLearning interviewed Prof. Dr. med. Eckhart G. Hahn, chairman of the GMA (Society for Medical Education), about the opportunities for electronic learning in medical training. "E-learning with simulations and case-based scenarios with virtual patients offers great opportunities to maintain teaching despite a lack of patient availability," explained Hahn. This form of learning is very well received by new generations of medical students who have grown up with computers. The use of e-learning is also important to balance the student-to-professor ratio.

Blended learning preferred

Prof. Hahn made it clear that if electronic learning packages for medical professionals include examination modules, their range of applications is broad. However, e-learning in medicine must also urgently prove itself in practice: "Various studies come to the conclusion that the learning context plays a major role. If the student achieves excellent results on the computer, it does not mean that they can transfer the knowledge to the practical context. Digital media must therefore take learning objectives and learning outcomes into account and fit into the overall structure of teaching and learning. Blended learning concepts therefore take priority in medical education." (CHECK.point eLearning)

Since some face-to-face events can be eliminated through blended learning, clinics also save a considerable amount of money.

Forms of digital learning in medicine

Among other things, medical students and medical professionals today use training software to learn how to analyze medical images (e.g., from X-rays, ultrasound, CT, MRI, wound management, dermatology, dentistry) and use multimedia e-learning systems or interactive learning software to learn diagnostic procedures, operating functions of medical devices, and examination points.

Depending on the learning objective, the following are suitable for practical learning:

• virtual patients
• simulations
• learning apps
• explanatory and instructional videos
• quiz app

If the learning management system or learning software is also combined with wikis and forums, these serve as a reference work for the medical user even outside of their case-oriented learning units.

As a learning app on their mobile device, the medical learning program allows them to learn from any location with mobile reception.