A comparative study of outcome of teaching cum learning related to suicide risk assessment using mobile app vs conventional teaching for UG medical students

Background and Objectives - In 2016, suicide emerged as the primary cause of death among individuals aged 15 to 39 in India. The World Health Organization's Mental Health Action Plan emphasizes the importance of integrating self-help strategies through digital and mobile platforms, alongside other measures, to enhance the accessibility and availability of evidence-based mental health services, yielding positive outcomes. Technology has been harnessed to provide both self-help and guided psychological therapies, presenting a viable, low-intensity, and cost-effective approach to reach a broader population in need of mental health care. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile application compared to traditional teaching methods in educating undergraduate medical students about suicide risk assessment. Methodology – This cross-sectional comparative study involved MBBS students from a medical college hospital during the 2022-2023 academic year. The sample size was determined to be 138 participants, with 67 assigned to Group A, which received conventional teaching, and 71 to Group B, which utilized mobile application-based teaching. In the first two weeks, students were randomly assigned to either Group A or Group B, both of which focused on the topic of suicide risk assessment. Ethical clearance was secured from the relevant institutional board. Results - We found that 87.61% of participants perceived the mobile application as more understandable compared to traditional teaching methods. Conclusion - The use of mobile applications for teaching suicide risk assessment to MBBS students is equally effective as traditional instructional methods.