title: Content and discontent: a qualitative exploration of obstacles to elearning engagement in medical students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elearning is ubiquitous in healthcare professions education. Its equivalence to 'traditional' educational delivery methods is well established. There is a research imperative to clarify when and how to use elearning most effectively to mitigate the potential of it becoming merely a 'disruptive technology.' Research has begun to broadly identify challenges encountered by elearning users. In this study, we explore in depth the perceived obstacles to elearning engagement amongst medical students. Sensitising concepts of achievement emotions and the cognitive demands of multi-tasking highlight why students' deeply emotional responses to elearning may be so important in their learning.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used focus groups as a data collection tool. A purposeful sample of 31 participated. Iterative data gathering and analysis phases employed a constant comparative approach to generate themes firmly grounded in participant experience.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key themes that emerged from the data included a sense of injustice, passivity and a feeling of being 'lost at sea'. The actual content of the elearning resource provided important context.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The identified themes have strong emotional foundations. These responses, interpreted through the lens of achievement emotions, have not previously been described. Appreciation of their importance is of benefit to educators involved in curriculum development or delivery.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, University Road, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK.
authors.forename: Helen J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, University Road, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, University Road, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK. k.mcglade@qub.ac.uk.|Department of General Practice, Dunluce Health Centre, 1 Dunluce Avenue, Belfast, BT9 7HR, UK. k.mcglade@qub.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kieran J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: McGlade
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Achievement emotions; Elearning; Health professions education; Obstacles; Undergraduate