WeChat as a Platform for Problem-Based Learning Among Hematological Postgraduates: Feasibility and Acceptability Study

• Main Authors: Luo, Ping, Pang, Wenwen, Wang, Yingying, Liu, Minghui, Zhou, Shu, Liu, Shuai, Zhang, Xian, Liu, Li, Liu, Yanan, Zhou, Fuling
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: JMIR Publications 2021-05-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Internet Research
• Online Access: https://www.jmir.org/2021/5/e16463

BackgroundHematological medicine is a practical discipline that is difficult to study. Problem-based learning (PBL) is an innovative student-centered teaching method wherein students define their own learning objectives from clinically based problems. Considering that WeChat is the most popular communication app in China, we selected it as a new platform for online PBL to reduce the limitations of traditional PBL in hematology teaching. ObjectiveThis study aims to explore a new pedagogical method called WeChat-PBL, which is based on real micro clinical cases for postgraduates majoring in hematology and to demonstrate its feasibility and acceptability. MethodsA total of 48 hematological postgraduates and 7 tutors participated in this study. We divided the participants into 7 groups where students can learn theoretical knowledge. After each course, the members of each group were required to complete in-class quizzes. Moreover, the students and tutors were required to fill out periodic (after each class) and overall (after each semester) evaluations. ResultsA total of 8 micro clinical cases were presented in WeChat-PBL. The average quiz score for acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, multiple myeloma, acute promyelocytic leukemia, and lymphoma were 89.0%, 86.0%, 83.4%, 88.8%, and 77.5%, respectively. Periodic evaluations showed that both students and tutors were satisfied with the process of WeChat-PBL. The overall evaluation results showed that WeChat-PBL was able to positively impact the learning experiences of hematological postgraduates. ConclusionsOur results indicate the feasibility and acceptability of the WeChat-PBL teaching method for postgraduates majoring in hematology.