A User’s Guide to Open Educational Resources in Medical Education

Open educational resources (OERs) such as blog posts, podcasts, infographics, and videos focusing on medical topics are frequently published online. Their objectives are variable and include the critical appraisal of individual research articles, the knowledge translation of new or under-discussed publications or guidelines, and the review and integration of knowledge on a particular topic. However, due to the ease of publishing in these new media, the quality of these resources is heterogeneous and inconsistent. It is important for medical learners, educators, and practicing physicians to critically appraise these new and easily accessible formats of medical literature and resources. This paper provides an approach to appraise and use OERs.