"Siilo" – A New Instant Messaging Application for Medical Professionals and a Novel Platform for Medical Education

Abstract

Abstract Background: The use of instant mobile messaging applications has rapidly grown in recent decades. WhatsApp is the most common of these, but it has several limitations for use in medical settings when it comes to medical data confidentiality and security, and convenience of use. In this paper we introduce "Siilo" – a new mobile phone application specifically designed for medical professionals – as an alternative messaging application, addressing its advantages for use in the medical field. Particularly, we intend to present its potential use for medical education which we discovered during the COVID-19 pandemic when the need for virtual teaching platforms has risen, and considering studies that have shown improvement in student satisfaction and achievement in educational programs that included the use of instant mobile messaging applications. Methods: During the pandemic, we evaluated possible uses of this application in the teaching and assessment of medical students during their clinical studies, and here we present a case-based learning program that was applied among fifth-year medical students in their rotation in the Obstetrics and Gynecology ward. Results: We demonstrated that with the utilization of "Siilo", the program improved students’ satisfaction and learning experience. Conclusion: "Siilo" is an effective educational tool we recommend to integrate with medical studies worldwide.