EMS providers do not use FOAM for education

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medical Services
• Digital Health

Background:

• Free Open Access Medical Education (FOAM) offers readily available educational materials.
• Evaluating the adoption and utilization of FOAM and social media among EMS providers is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the awareness, usage, and interest in FOAM and social media for educational purposes among EMS providers.
• To identify preferred platforms and potential barriers to FOAM adoption in EMS.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was developed and distributed to EMS providers via the ACEP EMS Listserv.
• The survey collected data on provider demographics, awareness of FOAM, social media usage for education, and interest in FOAM resources.

Main Results:

• A 32.3% response rate (169/523) was achieved, with respondents primarily being paramedics and EMT-Basics.
• Only 20% of respondents had heard of FOAM, though 54% were familiar with "free medical education online."
• Facebook (31%) and blogs/podcasts (23%) were the most used social media platforms for education; 76% expressed interest in using FOAM, rising to 83% if Continuing Medical Education (CME) was offered.

Conclusions:

• Current utilization of social media for FOAM among EMS providers is limited.
• There is significant interest among EMS providers in leveraging FOAM for continuing education, irrespective of CME accreditation.
• FOAM presents a promising avenue for enhancing EMS education and professional development.