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Electronic Portfolios in Medical Education: A Comparative Study

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

In a recent study published in Research and Development in Medical Education, researchers from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Iran conducted a comparative analysis of paper-based and electronic portfolios in medical education. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of electronic portfolios in improving student satisfaction and final grades among undergraduate medical students. The research concluded that while there were no significant differences in student satisfaction or final grade between the two portfolio types, the study suggests that electronic portfolios may offer potential advantages and warrant consideration in medical education.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study was conducted with two parallel groups of medical students at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, one using electronic portfolios and the other using paper-based portfolios.
  • The intervention group used electronic portfolios for one month, while the control group completed the usual paper-based portfolio.
  • The satisfaction scores and final grades of medical students were compared, with the linear regression model showing no difference between the two groups after adjusting for grade point average (GPA).
  • The study found that the grade point average (GPA) was significantly higher in the intervention group (17.31±0.94) compared to the control group (16.43±1.55), although the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.053).
  • The study suggests that electronic portfolios may offer potential advantages, but their implementation necessitates consideration of the specific needs and challenges faced by students.
  • The study was conducted in the Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, with Azadeh Soltanifar and Lida Jarahi as the co-authors, along with Majid Khadem-Rezaiyan.
  • The study highlights the importance of considering the specific needs and challenges faced by students in implementing electronic portfolios in medical education.

Statistics:

  • Grade point average (GPA) in the intervention group: 17.31±0.94
  • Grade point average (GPA) in the control group: 16.43±1.55
  • Satisfaction scores in the control group: 10.08±4.44
  • Satisfaction scores in the intervention group: 10.93±4.68
  • P-value for the comparison of GPA between the two groups: 0.053

Sources:

  • "Paper-based or electronic portfolios? A study on undergraduate medical students." Research and Development in Medical Education, 2025,14(1):33336-33336. (Research and Development in Medical Education - https://rdme.tbzmed.ac.ir/)
  • The publisher for Research and Development in Medical Education is Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.
  • A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.34172/rdme.025.33336.

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