Learning in the Digital Era – Awareness and Usage of Free Open Access Meducation among Emergency Department Doctors

Introduction Information and communication technology has revolutionized the space of medical education by providing a multitude of up-to-date evidence-based data to healthcare practitioners. Despite the increasing popularity of FOAM - Free Open Access Meducation (Medical Education) globally - data relating to its awareness and usage in Africa is lacking. In this study, we explore the awareness and usage of FOAM among doctors working at select emergency departments in Johannesburg. Methods The study comprised a prospective, questionnaire based, cross-sectional survey of medical doctors working at five academically affiliated emergency departments in Johannesburg. Data was described and compared. Results One-hundred and four participants completed the survey. Most of the respondents were aged between 31 and 39 years (n = 40, 43.9%). There were no significant differences between the proportion of females and males that used FOAM (p = 0.56). Most participants (n = 91, 87.5%) were aware of FOAM, while 82 (78.8%) used FOAM, 13 (12.5%) were unsure if they used FOAM and nine (8.7%) did not use FOAM. Majority of those that used FOAM, only used it once a week (n = 47, 57.3%). Most participants spent between one and two hours per day on FOAM (n = 29, 35.4%). Smartphones were by far the most commonly used device to access FOAM (n = 91, 87.5%). Conclusion The level of awareness of FOAM is high and its usage is prevalent among emergency medicine healthcare professionals in Johannesburg. As technology becomes more prominent, institutions must aim to adapt to the digital era in their teaching methods.