Full Teaching Professor University of California, Merced Elk Grove, California, United States
Disclosure(s):
John Cusick, PhD: No financial relationships to disclose
Introduction/Rationale: This study sought to determine the perspectives of medical students on the benefits of using music parodies to supplement immunology instruction, as well as to determine whether engaging in musical activities can help alleviate student stress.
Methods: Song parodies with lyrics related to the lecture's topic were performed accompanied by slides that included the parody’s lyrics and relevant textbook images to visually explain concepts. YouTube videos were created for select parodies. Surveys were administered to assess student perspectives using questions on a 7-point Likert scale. To assess music’s role in student wellness, surveys with questions on a 7-point Likert scale were distributed to the members of Music Meets Medicine (MMM), a medical student-led organization that hosts events, such as music performances at senior centers, which allow students to connect with the community and each other through music.
Results: Most students believe song parodies can serve as useful mnemonic devices (average Likert score of 5.2, n=33), found the song parodies to be entertaining (6.6, n=33), and wished to see more song parodies (6.0, n=33). Most MMM members felt participating in the group helped relieve their stress (5.8, n=35), enjoyed participating in school karaoke and talent show events (5.7, n=33) and found meaning and fulfillment while performing for senior citizens (6.2, n=29).
Conclusion: Most students were enthusiastic about the use of song parodies and felt that they can be beneficial to learning. We previously reported that the creation and performance of immunology music parodies by students was also very well received by students. Most participating students believe that performing in a student-led music group is very rewarding and beneficial to their well-being. Music is a part of many students' lives, and its ability to serve as a learning tool and stress reliever can be a valuable resource for students during their education.
