Abstract

WhatsApp is a free, cross-platform messaging application widely used by undergraduate students to share multimedia content such as photos, videos, audio clips, and text messages. The present study aimed to assess the perception, attitude, and perceived usefulness of WhatsApp group discussions as a teachinglearning tool in anatomy for first-year medical students. A significant majority (87%) of students found WhatsApp group discussions useful, while 8.7% did not find it beneficial, and 4.3% were uncertain. Students appreciated the ease of access to learning materials, discussion threads, and the continuous availability of peer and faculty support. This flexibility enabled them to revisit and reinforce complex topics such as neuroanatomy and histology at their own pace. Overall, most students considered WhatsApp group discussions to be a valuable supplementary tool that enhanced their anatomy learning outside the classroom. When effectively moderated, it served as an informal yet impactful extension of academic discourse.

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Data Sharing Statement

Funding