Messaging apps use in undergraduate medical education: The case of National Medical Unified Examination

The Internet and social media became an integral aspect of our life. WhatsApp has the potential to increase collaboration, problem-solving, networking, easily sharing ideas, and study material among medical students. In order to achieve a more student-centered learning environment. Three months before the National Unified Medical Examination (NUME), the Faculty of Medicine of Syrian Private University deanship created a special WhatsApp group included students preparing for October 2018. NUME and university academic staff and professors from different specialties. We assessed the effect of the WhatsApp group on the academic performance measured by NUME grades. We conclude that WhatsApp Messenger groups have a positive effect on the NUME score. More participation in the group correlated with more NUME scores. It may be an important measure especially in the era of Social Distancing during COVID-19 pandemic as frequent and large classes are avoided as much as possible.