The Effect of Podcast Technology on Nursing and Patient Education

In 2004, technology enabled individuals to broadcast audio files, mainly music from the Internet, onto a portable iPod device.  Soon thereafter, the creation and use of the word “podcast” became popular when persons combined portions of the words “broadcast” and “iPod” together (Kardong-Edgren & Emerson, 2010).  Podcast technology involves audio broadcasting through using a format called Really Simple Syndication (RSS) to distribute web content (Billings & Halstead, 2009).  Users download audio and video files, from various Internet sources, onto their iPod, MP3 player, personal computer, and smartphone devices.  When the podcast features a video file, this technology is considered a vodcast and it utilizes a similar RSS format for transmission.

Multiple educational settings including colleges and universities have incorporated podcast technology within course lectures.  Professors can pre-record their lectures utilizing podcast technology and encourage students to listen to the lectures in advance of class enhancing preparation or as an adjunct to lectures for study purposes. 

Health care professionals have the capacity to receive continuing education credits by way of podcast technology.  This device serves as a tool to download recordings from reputable password-protected internet sites enabling the professional to maintain competency in their specialty.  In addition, the public can increase personal knowledge on multiple health related topics via podcast technology.  Reliable sites such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) offer free podcasts on their website.   The CDC has a dedicated webpage and features past and present educational topics available for immediate podcast download or one can subscribe to podcast recordings.  Podcast technology has evolved from an iPod music player for leisure activities to a tool employed for nursing and patient education. 

Link to the Centers for Disease Control Podcasts

Link to Medline Plus