E-portfolio utilization in medical school clinical practice: assessing satisfaction and learning advantages

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Learning Tools

Background:

• Traditional paper portfolios have been used for documenting student progress in clinical practice.
• The integration of technology in medical education necessitates exploring digital alternatives like e-portfolios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare student satisfaction and perceived learning benefits between e-portfolios and paper portfolios in medical school clinical practice.
• To identify key factors influencing the effectiveness of e-portfolios in medical training.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 40 third-year medical students at Ajou University School of Medicine in December 2020.
• Data on e-portfolio utilization and satisfaction were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA.

Main Results:

• Students reported e-portfolios were highly beneficial for documenting clinical activities compared to paper portfolios.
• E-portfolios were perceived to require more time than paper portfolios.
• Highest satisfaction was associated with e-portfolios having fewer content items.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing the implementation and usability of e-portfolios is crucial for maximizing their benefits.
• Defining clear student competencies and learning goals is essential for effective e-portfolio structuring and utilization in clinical practice.