Dear Editor
I have read the recent article by Condo et al. on the use of podcasts as an educational tool for facilitating the learning of students enrolled in physical therapy courses by providing them with the latest information and quizzes for the preparation of the National Physical Therapy Examination [1]. Recognizing the benefits of podcasts as a learning tool, I would like to brief their application in the health professions as handy tools for continuing professional development.
Medicine is vast and greatly diverse. Holding up-to-date knowledge of all relevant information is highly impossible even for highly skilled healthcare professionals. As health sciences and technology continue to grow at a rapid pace, innovations and additional training strategies for continuing professional development are a prerequisite for health professionals to develop their clinical knowledge and skills on par with the latest advancements in the field of healthcare.
The day-to-day schedule of health professionals is often tightly packed, and they may face difficulty in accessing conventional training in the form of online or offline educational sessions, books, research, conferences, and seminars to enhance their knowledge and skills. Hence, it is essential to provide authentic, latest, and vital information to health professionals in a nutshell. In light of this, I strongly recommend the use of podcasts as handy tools for health professionals for continuing their professional development and keep track of the latest and novel discoveries in the field.
Podcasts can have numerous benefits in terms of being readily accessible and most importantly available at any time for health professionals. Health professionals can use this tool at their convenience to enhance their knowledge without having to spend much time and resources that would interfere with their daily clinical practice. However, while using such digital tools, it is important to verify the content for any unwanted, irrelevant, or false information. Once proven to be authentic, podcasts hold immense potential in assisting health professionals in continuing their professional development.
Thus, future studies to evaluate the potential of using podcasts in continuing professional development in health professions through an evidence-informed strategy are to be encouraged. As this holds significant implications, meaningful discussions from experts and medical educators are to be initiated in this regard.
Declarations
Conflict of Interest
The author declares no conflict of interest.
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Reference
- 1.Condo M, McKay J, Dassinger J, et al. Podcasting as an innovative tool for National Physical Therapy Examination preparation. Med Sci Educ. 2023 doi: 10.1007/s40670-023-01792-1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]