How Podcasts Teach: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Didactic Methods of the Top Hundred Medical Podcasts

New research analyzed the didactic approach used by the 100 most popular U.S. medical podcasts and evaluated factors concerning quality control and conflicts of interest. The authors extrapolated the list by averaging the rank positions for Apple podcasts in the Medicine category from June, 1, 2018, through Sept. 30, 2020. They devised and validated a categorization system of pedagogical methods founded on Bloom's taxonomy, compiling data on methods, podcast affiliation, target audience, format, ads, continuing medical education (CME) activities, and existence of a reference list or review process. According to the data, 91 of the top 100 podcasts are educational, with 51 labeled as podcasts intended for physician education (PIPEs) and 40 intended for other audiences, such as the general public, nurses and physical therapists. PIPEs are more likely to list references or have an entrenched review process, and offer CME credits than podcasts for other audiences. "Unlike traditional medical education, PIPEs are commonly produced by individuals or companies and targeted to all levels of medical learners," the authors report.

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