Are you listening? Why you should consider using podcasts to support professional development
Not a new concept
A podcast is a piece of audio content that may have been edited before its release. The first podcasts were released in 2004 and they have evolved from “on demand radio shows” to cover a range of topics including sports, comedy and clinical practice. Universities were using recorded lectures before the COVID-19 pandemic required a pivot to purely on-line learning, but podcasts may not have been considered as an alternative for those that preferred less screen time or required it, due to visual disturbances or dyslexia. Using podcasts also helps support the principle of curating rather than creating on-line content that is required purely for transmission of information.
Advantages of podcasts
1. Variety is the spice of life!
If you attend a lecture at a university or a presentation in your workplace you will be exposed to one person’s opinion from a single organisation. Even when you listen to a series of podcasts from one provider, you will be exposed to a range of speakers from various places. Some episodes may utilise more than one speaker to provide a wider range of opinions and perspectives. Individual organisations may lack expertise in some specialties, which can be addressed by using podcasts.
2. Availability on different platforms
Podcasts tend to be available on more than one music streaming platform, allowing you to access them via the one you use most often. Many are also available via their host website (using Soundcloud or Podbean). Podcasts are usually free to access.
3. Any time, any place, anywhere
You can listen to podcasts whilst in the car, waiting for or travelling on a bus or train, exercising or preparing dinner. (If I’m a passenger in a car or on a bus, I tend to feel a little queasy after a while if I’m reading, so an audio equivalent is a great alternative). When accessing a podcast via a music streaming platform, you usually have the option of downloading episodes as back up in case you experience areas with a poor internet connection.
4. Choose when to and how to listen
Some episodes are less than 20 minutes long, thus providing more bitesize pieces of learning. The ability to pause and pick up later can help listeners to break up longer recordings into more manageable chunks. Re-visiting episodes can help re-enforce learning.
Too much choice?
Although it is hard to find reliable data on the number of healthcare related podcasts available, data suggest there are over 4million podcasts available and this number will grow further in future. I have listed some of the sites that I have sampled and found useful for my own continuing professional development (CPD) and general curiosity.
Aural Apothecary – this was the first podcast series I listened to and opened my eyes (or should that be ears?) to the usefulness of this format for CPD. Hosted by three pharmacists, the series has a strong focus on patient-centred care and guests invited to participate in the discussions have included pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and patients. The website and streaming platforms also provide links to the paper discussed in each episode’s micro-discussion.
Pharmaceutical Journal – these podcasts cover a variety of clinical topics and current affairs relating to the profession. The PJ’s website includes links to a selection of associated articles to support the themes discussed in each episode.
British Medical Journal Talk Medicine – this site contains links to the podcast pages of the various journals published by the BMJ group (e.g., BMJ, Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, Gut, Heart, Thorax). The Drug and Therapeutics bulletin episodes are the ones I’ve listened to the most and provide a good alternative when you want a break from reading. When you access an episode from either the website or a music streaming platform you can also find a link to the article(s) discussed in each episode.
New England Journal of Medicine – this site has links to four different podcast series. The discussions around healthcare delivery tend to focus on the American system, but the clinical topics utilise a wide range of clinicians.
Pharmacy Magazine – this is my go-to podcast for discussions about the pharmacy profession. Some episodes focus on clinical topics.
What your GP doesn’t tell you – this is the most recent series that I have discovered (thanks to Steve Williams, for making the recommendation during one of the Aural Apothecary episodes). Hosted by an award winning medical journalist, the series explores why medical data may be interpreted and presented very differently. This is definitely one to listen to if you are looking for a different angle on topics reported in mainstream journals.
Ways to use podcasts effectively
Podcasts are not always an appropriate method of learning – e.g., for practical skills when visual media are often essential. One of the drawbacks associated with podcasts is that it is often more difficult to search for one relating to a specific topic when compared to trying to locate a journal article. The sheer number of episodes available can also be overwhelming if your intention is to “catch up” on previous material. Therefore, I’ve reflected on how I use them for my learning and offer these tips:
1. Pick some podcast series to subscribe to and set aside time each week to listen to them. Perhaps take a break from your computer or mobile device to reduce screen time. This can be particularly helpful if your schedule already feels over-loaded.
2. Do you like to listen to background music whilst working? If so, try a podcast or two per day to vary the background noise and help use your time more efficiently.
3. If you’re undertaking a course that recommends podcasts, access the episode that you have been sign-posted to and reflect on whether you’d find subscribing to that platform useful.
4. Form a peer learning group (e.g., with work colleagues, friends outside work, fellow students) and divide some podcast episodes amongst yourselves. Each person then produces a short summary of what they’ve learnt and highlights the episodes that they found particularly interesting and recommend everyone listens to.
5. If you would normally write a presentation to update colleagues about new evidence or guidance, see if there’s a podcast already available that would convey your intended messages. This would save you time and you can still allow your intended audience to ask questions after they’ve had time to listen to the episode.
Final thoughts
Although I’ve been using podcasts for less than two years, I intend to continue using them as a source of CPD and in my teaching. Hopefully you will to and maybe you’ll find inspiration to produce your own episodes in the future?
Related Articles
The following articles were accessed to support my own reflections when writing this newsletter.
Pharmacy microteaches is another great podcast, with a slightly more Medicines Information focus