Memes Adoption in Basic Medical Science Education as a Successful Learning Model: A Mixed Method Quasi-Experimental...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pharmacology
• Instructional Design

Background:

• Pharmacology is a challenging basic medical science.
• Memes are an emerging instructional tool with potential to improve student performance and satisfaction.
• Understanding student and faculty perceptions of meme use in pharmacology is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess medical students' and faculty's perceptions of using memes in pharmacology education.
• To explore criteria for successful meme adoption in pharmacology learning.
• To identify factors associated with meme effectiveness in enhancing student performance and satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A biphasic study involving second-year undergraduate medical students and faculty.
• Assessment of student and faculty perceptions regarding meme use.
• Thematic content analysis of narrative responses to identify success factors.
• Analysis of student academic performance in relation to meme integration.

Main Results:

• Meme use in pharmacology was well-received, with high satisfaction ratings from both high-achieving (4.5/5) and low-achieving (4.33/5) students.
• Memes were significantly associated with improved student performance (p = 0.022).
• Key criteria for successful meme learning included scientific background, context, concept clarity, message simplicity, practical relevance, and educational modality. Perceptions centered on engagement, feasibility, student attitudes, and cognitive impact.

Conclusions:

• Integrating memes into pharmacology education yields positive learning outcomes.
• Careful selection and design of memes are essential for maximizing their educational benefits and ensuring successful adoption.