Abstract
Background: Controversy remains about how successfully e-learning can improve clinical skills and knowledge acquisition. Our study's main objective was to compare the effects of e-learning versus traditional education on medical students' reasoning and how they applied their knowledge to clinical skills by evaluating their performance in a pediatrics exam based on key features. Our secondary objectives were to assess the factors associated with e-learning that might influence exam scores and to evaluate medical students' satisfaction with these two learning methods. Methods: Prospective observational study of two pediatric clerkship cohorts (2016–17 and 2017–18) of fourth-year medical students at the University of Geneva's Faculty of Medicine, Switzerland. All students participated in a standardized program of traditional seminars and e-learning using case-based scenarios. To compare the two learning methods, we taught two subjects using traditional seminars in 2016–17 and then using e-learning modules in 2017–18. To evaluate factors that might have influenced e-learning's effects, we monitored the use of all the e-learning modules studied in the months preceding the pediatric exam. Student satisfaction was evaluated using a questionnaire of four-point Likert scale-like items. Results: We included 299 medical students. Students using interactive e-learning modules had the same median scores for exam questions associated with e-learning as students who attended traditional seminars (median 80%, IQR 67%–100% vs. median 80%, IQR 67%–100%; p=0.975). A linear regression model showed an association between the scores for exam questions associated with e-learning and the number of quizzes taken and sex. Even though the overall satisfaction with the two learning methods was similar, students claimed that they learned more in e-learning than in traditional seminars, that learning objectives were better explained in e-learning modules, and that traditional seminars were better integrated into the curriculum.Conclusions: We found no evidence of a difference in students’ reasoning and how they applied their knowledge to clinical skills between e-learning and traditional seminar-based methods. The number of quizzes taken and being a female student were factors associated with better scores. Overall, students were satisfied with both learning methods, but they claimed that they learned more with e-learning.
Educational factors associated with e-learning
