Korean J Med Educ.  2024 Sep;36(3):327-333. 10.3946/kjme.2024.306.

E-portfolio utilization in medical school clinical practice: assessing satisfaction and learning advantages

• Song MR
• Yu JH
• Lee SK
• Moon SY
• Kim MR
• Lee JH

• KMID: 2558859
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3946/kjme.2024.306

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to investigate the difference in satisfaction and learning benefits between e-portfolios compared to paper portfolios during clinical practice in medical schools.
Methods
Utilization of and satisfaction with e-portfolios among 40 third-year medical students in the medicine department of Ajou University School of Medicine was collected using an online survey in December 2020. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and an analysis of variance.
Results
Students perceived that e-portfolios were highly beneficial for consistently documenting activities during clinical practice, when compared to paper-based portfolios (mean±standard deviation [SD]=2.60±1.22). However, the least rated aspect was that e-portfolios require less time than paper-based portfolios (mean±SD=1.80±1.14). Additionally, among the various clinical practice courses using e-portfolios, the highest satisfaction was observed with the fewest content items in the e-portfolio.
Conclusion
To maximize the potential benefits of e-portfolios, improvements in implementation and usability are essential. Additionally, for effective utilization of e-portfolios in clinical practice, it is necessary to clearly define students’ required competencies and ultimate goals, and structure content accordingly.

Keyword

E-portfolio; Portfolio; Content items; Medical students; Learning enhancement