Comparison of teaching about breast cancer via mobile or traditional learning methods in gynecology residents

Mobile learning enables users to interact with educational resources while in variable locations. Medical students in residency positions need to assimilate considerable knowledge besides their practical training and we therefore aimed to evaluate the impact of using short message service via cell phone as a learning tool in residents of Obstetrics and Gynecology in our hospital.

We sent short messages including data about breast cancer to the cell phones of 25 residents of gynecology and obstetrics and asked them to study a well-designed booklet containing another set of information about the disease in the same period. The rate of learning derived from the two methods was compared by pre- and post-tests and self-satisfaction assessed by a relevant questionnaire at the end of the program.

The mobile learning method had a significantly better effect on learning and created more interest in the subject.

Learning via receiving SMS can be an effective and appealing method of knowledge acquisition in higher levels of education.