Paediatric Free Open Access Meducation (FOAM): Behaviours, trends and implications
Introduction
Free Open Access Meducation (FOAM)describes online resources assisting learning in medicine.Little is known about users or their behaviours.
Methods
Using Google Analytics for a popular FOAMsite (www.paedatricfoam.com), we explored userdemographics and patterns of behaviour. We analysedthese further with descriptive and statistical tests usingSPSS (version 26). Data are presented as mean (SD).
Results
There were 181.44 (75.16) mean daily usersaccessing the site throughout a 4-month period during2018/2019. 68.9% of users were female; 44% were25–34 years; 57.3% used a mobile device. The meansession duration was 73.55 (9.41) seconds, with moretime spent per session and a greater number of pagesper session observed in users accessing the site from adesktop or tablet as opposed to a mobile phone. 84.3%of mobile users left the site after viewing a single page.Referral source was also associated with device used(p<0.001). Age was not related to user behaviours(p>0.05).
Discussion
FOAM is a rapidly developing form ofmedical education, with large user numbers seen fora site just 2 years old. The site is being used by manybeyond its intended readership. Rather than accessingmultiple pages from a desktop, users have varied onlinebehaviours, with the majority viewing a single page on amobile phone, referred by social media or Google.Conclusions Google Analytics can powerfully displayusage of medical websites but has important limitationsif statistical exploration is required. FOAM users area heterogenous group, and thus content should bedesigned with this in mind. Further research must beprioritised focussing on the scope, curriculum coverage,accuracy of information and the effectiveness of FOAMas an educational resource.
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