Evaluating the DR-ED Listserv as a Medical Education Networking and Support Tool

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Health Communication
• Professional Development

Background:

• Listservs, despite being older technology, demonstrate continued subscriber growth and benefit.
• The DR-ED listserv serves a significant role within the medical education community.
• Understanding subscriber demographics and usage patterns is crucial for evaluating digital platforms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the roles and impact of the DR-ED listserv in medical education.
• To identify subscriber profiles, motivations for joining, and methods of engagement.
• To assess the value of virtual resources and listservs for professional development.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods evaluation approach was employed.
• Analysis included message content analysis of the DR-ED listserv.
• User surveys were conducted to gather data on subscriber behavior and perceptions.

Main Results:

• The DR-ED listserv meets medical educators' needs for collegial networking, staying current, problem-solving, resource sharing, and advertising opportunities.
• Two primary engagement types were identified: one-way resource utilization and two-way resource sharing.
• Users highly value virtual resources and listservs as economical professional development tools.

Conclusions:

• The DR-ED listserv effectively fosters a community of practice for medical education practitioners.
• Easy access to global medical education listservs is a viable strategy for professional community building.
• The study's evaluation methods can inform future assessments of similar platforms.