New Media for Educating Urology Residents: An Interview Study in Canada and Germany

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Health
• Urology Training

Background:

• New media platforms are increasingly integrated into medical education.
• Understanding the current usage and perceived value of these tools is essential for optimizing resident training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the utilization and perceived usefulness of new media for urology resident education in Canada and Germany.
• To compare the adoption and impact of new media between Canadian and German urology programs.

Main Methods:

• An 11-item online survey was developed to evaluate new media use and perceived educational value.
• The survey was distributed to urology residents in Canada and Germany, with comparative analysis performed on the responses.

Main Results:

• Residents dedicate a significant portion of their education time to new media, with the Internet being the most used resource.
• Canadian residents reported higher usage of the Internet, apps, and social media for education compared to their German counterparts.
• While widely perceived as useful, Canadian residents expressed greater privacy concerns regarding new media use.

Conclusions:

• New media are integral to the educational landscape for urology residents, with the Internet serving as a primary resource.
• The findings suggest a need for continued research and technological advancement to enhance new media's role in urology residency education.