The significance of information and communication technology education via tablets in college of physical therapy.
Takashi Yoshizawa, Yusuke Kuwahara, Katsuhiko Mizota and 4 others
PMID 37131354WHAT IT FOUND
First-year physical therapy students reported that tablet use helped them cooperate and teach each other, but communication with teachers scored lower.
This survey suggests tablets support peer learning, but cannot prove improved clinical skills.
Key findings
01Students rated cooperation and peer teaching higher than communicating their own thoughts or discovering new ideas.
02Communication with teachers scored significantly lower than peer interaction items.
03The study relied on self-reported perceptions after one year of tablet use in lectures and practice classes.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study measured student perceptions, not actual learning outcomes or clinical competence. There was no control group or comparison to classes without tablets. The survey was administered after one year of tablet use, so students' expectations may have influenced responses. Only first-year students were included, limiting generalisability to more advanced training. The study did not compare before and after tablet introduction.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that tablet use improves clinical skills or patient outcomes. The study only reports that students felt they cooperated more with peers than communicated with teachers after using tablets in class.