mLearning with MediLingo: Decoding medical terminology like a language for Nursing students

McAllister, Nicole, Tavener-Smith, Taryn and Jackson, Jonathan (2023) mLearning with MediLingo: Decoding medical terminology like a language for Nursing students. In: North West London Research Symposium for NMAHPPs, 27 September 2023, Imperial College London, South Kensington. (Submitted)

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Abstract

Background and purpose: Medical terminology enables effective communication among healthcare professionals by offering precise meanings pertaining to patient health. Many students find learning medical terms challenging. Research suggests that students perceive value in receiving dedicated teaching on the linguistic rules of medical terminology. The aim of this pilot study was to explore nursing students’ experiences of using an mLearning application prototype (called MediLingo) to learn medical terminology like a language. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological study design was applied with a sample comprising 6 preregistration undergraduate nursing students. Participants signed up to MediLingo via their mobiles using their university email and proceeded to use it throughout the study’s 3-month duration. Participants attended a focus group to share their experiences. Findings/Results: Thematic Analysis conducted on the questionnaire and focus group responses yielded 3 main themes: Concept repetition, Decoding complex medical terminology into word parts, and Accessibility while learning ‘on the go’. Participants perceived clear value in concept repetition, decoding of medical terminology into composite word parts (i.e. prefixes, roots, and suffixes), and MediLingo’s accessibility to support their learning at a time and place of their choosing. Discussion: MediLingo used spaced repetition practice as a pedagogical approach to reinforcing the recall of medical terms that participants learned. Participants identified value in concept repetition. The core vocabulary learning strategy involved deconstructing medical terms into manageable word parts, which participants acknowledged was effective for learning difficult terms. MediLingo’s accessibility was prized by participants, who moved between university life and clinical placement. Participants valued being able to access MediLingo across a variety of settings. Conclusion: The findings indicate that MediLingo positively supported participants’ learning of complex medical terminology by emphasising the importance of learning these terms according to their composite word parts, like a language.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Keywords:	mLearning, Medilingo
Depositing User:	RED Unit Admin
Date Deposited:	13 Sep 2023 11:16
Last Modified:	20 Sep 2023 12:37
URI:	https://bnu.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/18770

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