Developing a structured telemedicine curriculum for medical students: a qualitative study based on expert interviews

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Health
• Healthcare Innovation

Background:

• Telemedicine is crucial for modern healthcare access and efficiency.
• Medical education often lacks structured telemedicine training.
• A gap exists between global telemedicine advancements and educational preparedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a contextually adapted telemedicine curriculum for undergraduate medical students.
• To integrate global telemedicine competencies with local healthcare priorities.
• To address the deficit in formal telemedicine education within medical schools.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study combining international curriculum review and expert interviews.
• Semi-structured interviews with 14 experts in clinical practice, medical education, and health IT.
• Directed content analysis with iterative coding in MAXQDA, ensuring thematic saturation.

Main Results:

• Three core domains identified: learning objectives, instructional strategies, and curricular content.
• Learning objectives focus on healthcare delivery, professional competencies, and digital literacy.
• Instructional strategies include blended learning, simulations, and interprofessional collaboration; content covers legal, ethical, and technical aspects.

Conclusions:

• A contextually relevant, globally aligned telemedicine curriculum framework was proposed.
• The curriculum emphasizes essential competencies for digital health practice.
• Pilot implementation and evaluation are needed to confirm effectiveness in enhancing student skills and health outcomes.