Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Medical Education
Date Submitted: Aug 16, 2024
Date Accepted: Nov 25, 2025
PBL methods combined with WeChat as a platform in ophthalmologic teaching in China
ABSTRACT
Background:
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) has gained widespread acceptance in medical education. Given WeChat has emerged as a popular social networking platform in China, we have opted to utilize it for conducting online PBL in ophthalmology, aiming to diminish the constraints of conventional teaching approaches.
Objective:
This study aims to assess the effectiveness of problem-based learning (PBL) combined with WeChat in Chinese undergraduate medical students, compared to traditional teaching methods.
Methods:
The study involved a total of 108 undergraduate students who successfully passed the National Entrance Examination. Students were placed into six groups (18 students for each group) using a random number table, and the new teaching methods were tested outside their regular class time. Three groups were randomly selected to receive PBL using WeChat as the platform, while the remaining three groups received conventional teaching.
Results:
Total scores were not significantly different between WeChat-based PBL teaching group and traditional teaching group; the memory scores, one of the component of total scores, were significantly higher in traditional teaching group compared to WeChat-based PBL group.
Conclusions:
Compared to conventional teaching, WeChat-based PBL model is more easily accepted by students, and has transformed the traditional "cramming education" model by facilitating a more active learning experience for students.
Citation
Per the author's request the PDF is not available.
Copyright
© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.