JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Podcasts are increasingly being recognized as an effective platform for medical education. Compared with textbooks, face-to-face meetings, and other more traditional forms of medical education, podcasts are generally more engaging and less expensive to develop. Podcasts are at the cutting edge of digital education and can be an important element of a pharmaceutical company’s multichannel communications plan to improve health care professional (HCP) engagement and education in specific therapy areas. However, developing a successful podcast can have significant challenges. In this viewpoint paper, we provide our perspectives on medical podcasts as a medium for educating HCPs in the digital age. We describe our experience in developing a HIV-focused podcast for Australian HCPs, creating a series that has now expanded to other therapy areas in several countries. Practical considerations for developing podcasts and suggestions for how to overcome unique issues associated with industry-sponsored podcasts are outlined. Overall, we believe that the process of developing a podcast can be a challenging but rewarding experience, and medical education via podcasting should be more routinely considered by pharmaceutical companies.