Social Media in Physician Assistance and Medical Education

Objective: To assess physician assistant (PA) students’ experiences with social media (SM) as a part of their medical education. Place and duration of study: Study was conducted at Fazaia Medical College, Islamabad, Pakistan from July 2019 to July 2020 in one year duration. Methodology: This study was completed in two different phases. In phase 1 a cross sectional survey was conducted to measure student opinions and experience with social media. This survey was conducted on all 1st and 2nd year PA students. Phase 2 was a longitudinal observational survey to incorporate two 1st year PA classes regarding social media in medical education resources. First year and second year students from medical school were enrolled. Results: The mean support of social media inclusion in physician assistant, enhancing existing curriculum, and the anticipation of formal inclusion in the future was 2.42±0.58,2.53±0.98 and 2.42±1.06, respectively. While support social media inclusion in physician assistant, worthwhile addition to the lectures and Useful addition to physician assistant curriculum was 1.84±0.64, 1.77±0.72 and 2.02±0.88, respectively. Conclusion:  Many physician assistants and medical students are already using social media as an informal part of their studies. Some difficulties were also identified by physician assistant students in finding a well-established educational social media. Many PA educators used our data in designing curriculum of PA students. More studies are needed to focus on social media use and its effects on examination education and learning.