Abstract for poster presentation at the 16th National Medical Education Conference of Thailand in August 2015

1. Use of Electronic Devices for National License Examination Self-Study among
Ramathibodi Medical Students
Nawanan Theera-Ampornpunt, MD, PhD, Wittawin Chantapoh,
Sakphathai Teyaratchakul, Suthan Srisangkaew, MD
Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Introduction
Electronic devices are an integral part of students’ lifestyles today. However, few have conducted
formal surveys of electronic device use by medical students in Thailand, especially for self-study
to prepare for their National License Examination, Step 1 (NL1).
Objective
This study is part of a larger study, the National License Examination and Ramathibodi Medical
Students’ Use of Electronic Devices Survey (NERDS). The objective of this initial study is to
describe how third-year Ramathibodi medical students use electronic devices for self-study to
prepare for NL1 and to identify obstacles related to such use.
Material/Methods
A self-administered paper-based survey was distributed to the entire class of third-year
Ramathibodi medical students in May 2015 (except two medical students who were co-
investigators). The 5-page questionnaire consisted of 41 items. All responses were voluntary.
Results
Among 174 eligible subjects, 156 responses (89.7%) were received. Desktop PCs, notebooks,
smartphones, and tablets were used by 33.1%, 65.4%, 89.7%, 76.3% of respondents, respectively.
Most smartphones (76.9%) and tablets (94.7%) were iOS-based. Common reasons for device use
were: searching for meaning of words (92.3%), searching for explanations (87.7%), searching for
visual contents (87.7%), and practicing exercises/sample exams (85.8%). Most serious obstacles
of device use for NL1 self-study, as perceived by respondents, were: distractions by games and
social media, performance of wireless networks on campus, and performance of personal 3G/Edge
mobile networks.
Conclusions
Most medical students used mobile devices for NL1 self-study, but distractions and network
performance were their key obstacles. Medical schools should provide adequate network facilities
to support students’ self-study.
Keywords
Electronic device, mobile device, self-study, National License Examination, medical students