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Daily SPARK-A Comic Style eMicrolearning to Enhance Clinical Reasoning and Reinforce Conceptual Understanding in Biochemistry Promoting Its Application to Clinical Practice.

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Title: Daily SPARK-A Comic Style eMicrolearning to Enhance Clinical Reasoning and Reinforce Conceptual Understanding in Biochemistry Promoting Its Application to Clinical Practice.
Authors: Surapaneni KM; Department of Biochemistry, Panimalar Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.; Department of Medical Education, Panimalar Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Source: Biochemistry and molecular biology education : a bimonthly publication of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology [Biochem Mol Biol Educ] 2026 Sep-Oct; Vol. 54 (5), pp. 507-512. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jul 30.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: John Wiley & sons Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 100970605 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1539-3429 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14708175 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Biochem Mol Biol Educ Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Publication: 2002- : Hoboken, NJ : John Wiley & sons
Original Publication: Oxford, UK : Elsevier, c2000-
MeSH Terms: Biochemistry*/education , Students, Medical*/psychology , Clinical Reasoning* , Comic Books as Topic* , Comprehension*, Humans ; Learning
Abstract: eMicrolearning promotes retention through brief, repeated engagement and supports integration of knowledge over time; however, its use in medical education remains limited. Daily SPARK (Study Points for Application, Reasoning and Key concepts) was developed as a comic-based eMicrolearning intervention designed to support conceptual clarity, clinical reasoning, and consistent reinforcement in biochemistry. Daily SPARKs were shared with 732 medical students from first year through internship for a period of 6 months. Evaluation included a 10-point quantitative Likert-scale questionnaire and qualitative feedback from volunteering students. Students perceived Daily SPARKs to have strengthened concepts, clarified misconceptions, enhanced exam readiness, offered new explanations, were visually engaging, sustained attention, and is a low-cost scalable learning method.
(© 2026 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.)
References: BMC Med Educ. 2025 Apr 17;25(1):563. (PMID: 40247262)
Psychiatr Q. 2017 Jun;88(2):225-234. (PMID: 27815803)
Anat Sci Educ. 2011 Sep-Oct;4(5):275-9. (PMID: 21634024)
Ann Palliat Med. 2020 Jul;9(4):1841-1846. (PMID: 32527120)
J Med Humanit. 2020 Dec;41(4):573-578. (PMID: 32809157)
Acad Radiol. 2024 Feb;31(2):371-376. (PMID: 38401982)
Clin Teach. 2021 Dec;18(6):675-678. (PMID: 34651427)
BMC Med Educ. 2023 Apr 17;23(1):255. (PMID: 37069640)
Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Apr 08;12:1521126. (PMID: 40265187)
Educ Health (Abingdon). 2018 May-Aug;31(2):125-129. (PMID: 30531056)
Acad Med. 2024 Jan 1;99(1):22-27. (PMID: 37651677)
Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ. 2023 Oct 16;13(10):2262-2275. (PMID: 37887161)
JMIR Med Educ. 2023 Oct 20;9:e48785. (PMID: 37862079)
Cureus. 2024 Nov 27;16(11):e74638. (PMID: 39624528)
JMIR Med Educ. 2019 Jul 23;5(2):e13997. (PMID: 31339105)
Essays Biochem. 2022 Apr 29;66(1):39-44. (PMID: 35415758)
Anat Sci Educ. 2017 Jan;10(1):79-86. (PMID: 27233080)
JMIR Med Educ. 2026 Mar 11;12:e87980. (PMID: 41711588)
Acad Med. 2015 Jun;90(6):774-9. (PMID: 25853686)
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: clinical reasoning; comic‐style learning; eMicrolearning; medical education; visual storytelling
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260730 Date Completed: 20260915 Latest Revision: 20260917
Update Code: 20260917
PubMed Central ID: PMC13576804
DOI: 10.1002/bmb.70072
PMID: 42530466
Database: MEDLINE
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  Data: Daily SPARK-A Comic Style eMicrolearning to Enhance Clinical Reasoning and Reinforce Conceptual Understanding in Biochemistry Promoting Its Application to Clinical Practice.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Surapaneni+KM%22">Surapaneni KM</searchLink>; Department of Biochemistry, Panimalar Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.; Department of Medical Education, Panimalar Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
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  Data: eMicrolearning promotes retention through brief, repeated engagement and supports integration of knowledge over time; however, its use in medical education remains limited. Daily SPARK (Study Points for Application, Reasoning and Key concepts) was developed as a comic-based eMicrolearning intervention designed to support conceptual clarity, clinical reasoning, and consistent reinforcement in biochemistry. Daily SPARKs were shared with 732 medical students from first year through internship for a period of 6 months. Evaluation included a 10-point quantitative Likert-scale questionnaire and qualitative feedback from volunteering students. Students perceived Daily SPARKs to have strengthened concepts, clarified misconceptions, enhanced exam readiness, offered new explanations, were visually engaging, sustained attention, and is a low-cost scalable learning method.<br /> (© 2026 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.)
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  Data: BMC Med Educ. 2025 Apr 17;25(1):563. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2240247262%22">40247262)</searchLink><br />Psychiatr Q. 2017 Jun;88(2):225-234. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2227815803%22">27815803)</searchLink><br />Anat Sci Educ. 2011 Sep-Oct;4(5):275-9. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2221634024%22">21634024)</searchLink><br />Ann Palliat Med. 2020 Jul;9(4):1841-1846. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2232527120%22">32527120)</searchLink><br />J Med Humanit. 2020 Dec;41(4):573-578. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2232809157%22">32809157)</searchLink><br />Acad Radiol. 2024 Feb;31(2):371-376. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2238401982%22">38401982)</searchLink><br />Clin Teach. 2021 Dec;18(6):675-678. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2234651427%22">34651427)</searchLink><br />BMC Med Educ. 2023 Apr 17;23(1):255. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2237069640%22">37069640)</searchLink><br />Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Apr 08;12:1521126. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2240265187%22">40265187)</searchLink><br />Educ Health (Abingdon). 2018 May-Aug;31(2):125-129. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2230531056%22">30531056)</searchLink><br />Acad Med. 2024 Jan 1;99(1):22-27. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2237651677%22">37651677)</searchLink><br />Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ. 2023 Oct 16;13(10):2262-2275. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2237887161%22">37887161)</searchLink><br />JMIR Med Educ. 2023 Oct 20;9:e48785. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2237862079%22">37862079)</searchLink><br />Cureus. 2024 Nov 27;16(11):e74638. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2239624528%22">39624528)</searchLink><br />JMIR Med Educ. 2019 Jul 23;5(2):e13997. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2231339105%22">31339105)</searchLink><br />Essays Biochem. 2022 Apr 29;66(1):39-44. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2235415758%22">35415758)</searchLink><br />Anat Sci Educ. 2017 Jan;10(1):79-86. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2227233080%22">27233080)</searchLink><br />JMIR Med Educ. 2026 Mar 11;12:e87980. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2241711588%22">41711588)</searchLink><br />Acad Med. 2015 Jun;90(6):774-9. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2225853686%22">25853686)</searchLink>
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