E-learning Modules to Improve Clinical Reasoning and Practice: a Prospective Comparative Study

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.

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Assessing the Transition From Pre-Clerkship to Clerkship in a Four-Year Medical Program: Recommendations for Future Success

10.21203/rs.3.rs-737559/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Neel Mistry ◽

Stefan de Laplante ◽

Craig Murray Campbell

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Clinical Skills ◽

Bachelor's Degree ◽

School Students ◽

Professional Activities ◽

Future Success ◽

Seamless Transition ◽

Medical Program ◽

Fourth Year Medical Students ◽

The University

Abstract Background: The transition from pre-clerkship to clinical clerkship is a pivotal moment for medical students. At the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Unit IV and the Link Block are designed to facilitate this transition. Improvements to the current curriculum, specifically in Unit IV, may better prepare students for clerkship. We aimed to summarize existing literary evidence on the transition to clerkship and collect student feedback to generate recommendations for success with regard to clerkship preparedness at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine. Methods: We conducted a literature search using PubMed, MEDLINE, ERIC, and CINAHL for studies evaluating the transition to clerkship in a four-year medical program. Using this data, we created two different versions of our survey (pre-transition and post-transition) for dissemination to second, third, and fourth-year medical students, plus MD/PhD students, in the Anglophone and Francophone stream. The survey was open for three weeks from October 10 to October 31, 2020, with weekly reminders to all eligible participants. Microsoft Excel 2016 was used for data analysis. Results: We obtained 176 respondents, of which 158 (70% Anglophone and 30% Francophone) were included in the analysis. The majority of students were in the MD2023 cohort (40%) and had completed a 4-year Bachelor’s degree (61%) prior to medical school. Students in the post-transition group were less anxious about the transition to clerkship than their junior colleagues, although differences between streams were marginal. The most notable difference concerning Entrustable Professional Activities was in terms of obtaining a complete history and performing a physical examination, with the post-transition cohort reporting increased competency compared to the pre-transition cohort in the Anglophone stream (2.9/5.0 pre-transition vs. 3.3/5.0 post-transition, +0.33 difference, p<0.05). Top two stressors for incoming clerks were a lack of clinical skills or experience, and lack of clarity around clerkship roles, responsibilities, and expectations.Conclusion: There is limited training to facilitate a seamless transition for incoming clerks at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine. Changes can be made at the pre-clerkship level in the form of small-group orientation sessions, formative OSCEs, accelerated review of pre-clerkship material, and clerkship simulation sessions.

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Impact of Early Exposure to Simulation Program on Undergraduate Medical Students’ Interest in Urology

Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development ◽

10.1177/23821205211020750 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 238212052110207

Author(s):

Tomokazu Kimura ◽

Kosuke Kojo ◽

Masanobu Shiga ◽

Ichiro Chihara ◽

Atsushi Ikeda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Clinical Skills ◽

Clinical Clerkship ◽

Early Exposure ◽

Undergraduate Medical Students ◽

Community Based ◽

Hands On ◽

Before And After ◽

Fourth Year Medical Students ◽

The University

Background: Urological education is as important as surgical training for undergraduates. However, students in undergraduate medical schools have less exposure to urology as their curriculum focuses more on clinical skills, particularly community-based healthcare for a super-aging society. This study aimed to evaluate whether urology-related hands-on training could increase the interest of undergraduate medical students in urology. Methods: A 1-day elective program in urological surgery at the University of Tsukuba, particularly in robotic, laparoscopic, and endoscopic surgeries, was offered to 85 fourth-year medical students from 2018 to 2020, prior to their clinical clerkship. The average age of the participants was 22 (range: 21-25) years. We used a scoring system that comprised 1-5 Likert-type items to assess training activity, interest in surgery, and interest in urology before and after the course. Results: Before attending the program, the average scores of interest in urology were 3.53 in 2018, 3.15 in 2019, and 3.00 in 2020. The scores in surgery increased after the program; however, this was not significantly different from scores prior to the program. However, the average interest scores in urology were significantly increased to 3.91 ± 0.63 ( P < .05), 3.88 ± 0.58 ( P < .01), and 4.00 ± 0.61 ( P < 0.01) in 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively. Total likely scores of this program in 2018, 2019, and 2020 were 4.59, 4.76, and 4.88, respectively, indicating a motivation to study surgery and urology during clinical clerkship. Conclusions: Urological hands-on training facilitated interest in urology in medical students prior to their clinical clerkship.

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A Quantitative Assessment of the Need for Offering Counselling Services to Medical Students attending University of Zambia, School of Medicine.

Christian Journal for Global Health ◽

10.15566/cjgh.v7i2.325 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 93-103

Author(s):

Gretchen Slover

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Counseling Services ◽

Student Responses ◽

Counselling Services ◽

School Of Medicine ◽

Comprehensive Picture ◽

Fourth Year Medical Students ◽

The Subject ◽

The University ◽

Therapy Sessions

Background: This research was birthed in 2017 during a trip to Lusaka, Zambia, with the purpose of offering fourth-year, medical students attending the University of Zambia, School of Medicine, lectures on psychology topics as part of their clinical studies. Students were also offered brief therapy sessions where they could process thoughts and feelings causing them internal struggles. The subject of offering counseling on a regular basis was randomly discussed with the students. From these discussions the need for this research became evident, with the intent of becoming the launching pad to brainstorm the most effective ways of developing a plan to offer counseling services for all medical students attending the University of Zambia School of Medicine. Methods: An-experimental research design, consisting of completion of a 12-item questionnaire administered by paper and pen. The inclusion criteria were the fourth year, medical students attending the University of Zambia, School of Medicine. Results: The student responses revealed that most of them had little to no experience with counseling services, but a strong desire for them. Discussion: The goal of this study was to simply establish a need for an on-campus counseling service, the need of which has been established by the very students who would benefit. With the acceptance of this need, the future plan is to explore the different ways in which this need can be fulfilled with minimal costs to the Medical School Program. Conclusion: This study is the first step towards identifying the needs of the medical students and sets the ground-work for further research into the specific areas of need and mental health challenges. More specificity in the area of demographics of students will produce a more comprehensive picture of the areas of concentration for the therapists offering services.

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An Open Source Solution for “Hands-on” teaching of PET/CT to Medical Students under the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nuklearmedizin ◽

10.1055/a-1267-9017 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Martin Biermann ◽

Salim Kanoun ◽

Trond Davidsen ◽

Robert Gray

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Student Satisfaction ◽

Student Survey ◽

Technical Challenge ◽

Course Work ◽

Pet Ct ◽

Hands On ◽

Hands On Learning ◽

Central Image ◽

The University

Abstract Aims Since 2017, medical students at the University of Bergen were taught PET/CT “hands-on” by viewing PET/CT cases in native format on diagnostic workstations in the hospital. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students were barred access. This prompted us to launch and evaluate a new freeware PET/CT viewing system hosted in the university network. Methods We asked our students to install the multiplatform Fiji viewer with Beth Israel PET/CT plugin (http://petctviewer.org) on their personal computers and connect to a central image database in the university network based on the public domain orthanc server (https://orthanc-server.com). At the end of course, we conducted an anonymous student survey. Results The new system was online within eight days, including regulatory approval. All 76 students (100 %) in the fifth year completed their course work, reading five anonymized PET/CT cases as planned. 41 (53 %) students answered the survey. Fiji was challenging to install with a mean score of 1.8 on a 5-point Likert scale (5 = easy, 1 = difficult). Fiji was more difficult to use (score 3.0) than the previously used diagnostic workstations in the hospital (score 4.1; p < 0.001, paired t-test). Despite the technical challenge, 47 % of students reported having learnt much (scores 4 and 5); only 11 % were negative (scores 1 and 2). 51 % found the PET/CT tasks engaging (scores 4 and 5) while 20 % and 5 % returned scores 2 and 1, respectively. Conclusion Despite the initial technical challenge, “hands-on” learning of PET/CT based on the freeware Fiji/orthanc PET/CT-viewer was associated with a high degree of student satisfaction. We plan to continue running the system to give students permanent access to PET/CT cases in native format regardless of time or location.

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A Mobile Medical Knowledge Dissemination Platform (HeadToToe): Mixed Methods Study

JMIR Medical Education ◽

10.2196/17729 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. e17729 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ido Zamberg ◽

Olivier Windisch ◽

Thomas Agoritsas ◽

Mathieu Nendaz ◽

Georges Savoldelli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

User Experience ◽

Clinical Skills ◽

Medical Knowledge ◽

Postgraduate Education ◽

Third Party ◽

University Hospital ◽

Knowledge Dissemination ◽

Easy Access ◽

The University

Background Finding readily accessible, high-quality medical references can be a challenging task. HeadToToe is a mobile platform designed to allow easy and quick access to sound, up-to-date, and validated medical knowledge and guidance. It provides easy access to essential clinical medical content in the form of documents, videos, clinical scores, and other formats for the day-to-day access and use by medical students and physicians during their pre- and postgraduate education. Objective The aim of this paper is to describe the architecture, user interface, and potential strengths and limitations of an innovative knowledge dissemination platform developed at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. We also report preliminary results from a user-experience survey and usage statistics over a selected period. Methods The dissemination platform consists of a smartphone app. Through an administration interface, content is managed by senior university and hospital staff. The app includes the following sections: (1) main section of medical guidance, organized by clinical field; (2) checklists for history-taking and clinical examination, organized by body systems; (3) laboratory section with frequently used lab values; and (4) favorites section. Each content item is programmed to be available for a given duration as defined by the content’s author. Automatic notifications signal the author when the content is about to expire, hence, promoting its timely updating and reducing the risk of using obsolete content. In the background, a third-party statistical collecting tool records anonymous utilization statistics. Results We launched the final version of the platform in March 2019, both at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Geneva and at the University Hospital of Geneva in Switzerland. A total of 622 students at the university and 613 health professionals at the hospital downloaded the app. Two-thirds of users at both institutions had an iOS device. During the practical examination period (ie, May 2019) there was a significant increase in the number of active users (P=.003), user activity (P<.001), and daily usage time (P<.001) among medical students. In addition, there were 1086 clinical skills video views during this period compared to a total of 484 in the preceding months (ie, a 108% increase). On a 10-point Likert scale, students and physicians rated the app with mean scores of 8.2 (SD 1.9) for user experience, 8.1 (SD 2.0) for usefulness, and 8.5 (SD 1.8) for relevance of content. In parallel, postgraduate trainees viewed more than 6000 documents during the first 3 months after the implementation in the Division of Neurology at our institution. Conclusions HeadToToe is an educator-driven, mobile dissemination platform, which provides rapid and user-friendly access to up-to-date medical content and guidance. The platform was given high ratings for user experience, usefulness, and content quality and was used more often during the exam period. This suggests that the platform could be used as tool for exam preparation.

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Corporate Training of Yakutia Teachers to Apply Methods of E-Learning

Propósitos y Representaciones ◽

10.20511/pyr2020.v8n3.486 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Maxim Anatolyevich Sorochinsky ◽

Elizaveta Afanasevna Barakhsanova ◽

Elena Zotikovna Vlasova ◽

Mikhail Semenovich Prokopyev ◽

Arkady Eduardovich Burnashev

Keyword(s):

New Technologies ◽

High Tech ◽

Traditional Learning ◽

Practical Implementation ◽

Sociological Study ◽

Learning Methods ◽

Educational Activities ◽

The North ◽

E Learning ◽

The University

Teacher training can assist in initiating digital changes in education. However, to achieve this, the training should use leading examples from the field of digital education solutions and technologies, while university and school educators should be trained to apply them in their work and to create high-tech educational startups in the field of e-learning. The goal of this study was to increase the professional competencies of teachers by conducting a corporate course that would prepare the teachers of the university in Yakutia to apply e-learning methods. The article demonstrates that the introduction of e-learning at the university is an important comprehensive process that implies transformation of all education components under the influence of modern technologies. Its practical implementation requires changing the goals, organizational forms, and technologies of educational activities in line with new technologies as well as the development of productive strategies for integrating the created innovations into the traditional learning process. For this purpose, the authors conducted a sociological study that helped identify the main problems associated with this type of training (for example, developing a course is time-consuming and a lack of required skills to develop courses). Based on the obtained data, the authors proposed a corporate course for university teachers on the creation of educational content for e-learning. It was shown that when applying new types of educational activities, teachers should combine traditional and new technologies, which contributes to the innovative training of teachers to meet the requirements of the digital society. This study focused on practical issues, since the research results were implemented in the work of the North-Eastern Federal University (NEFU), the base of the research. The results can be used when training teachers to apply e-learning methods in other educational institutions.

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Teaching Technology with Technology: Computer Assisted Lessons in the Medical School - The First Italian Experience in Nephrology and Dialysis

The International Journal of Artificial Organs ◽

10.1177/039139880202500908 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 25 (9) ◽

pp. 860-866 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

G.B. Piccoli ◽

M. Burdese ◽

D. Bergamo ◽

E. Mezza ◽

G. Soragna ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical School ◽

Student Satisfaction ◽

Real Time ◽

Computer Assisted ◽

Academic Teaching ◽

Italian Experience ◽

Open Questions ◽

Interactive Lessons ◽

The University

Background Dialysis is often neglected in academic teaching. At the University of Torino, Italy, teaching Nephrology (4th year of Medical School) consists of 21 hours of formal lessons, 10 hours/student of interactive lessons (4/10 dedicated to dialysis) and 10 optional lessons (3 regarding dialysis). Interactive and optional lessons widely employ computer assisted teaching. Aim of the study was to evaluate student satisfaction on this approach. Methods Student satisfaction was assessed on 4 sample lessons (166 students), by two short dedicated questionnaires (0–10 scale, open questions). Results High scores were given to the dialysis lessons (median 8/10). Computer assisted interface (median 8/10, range 6–10) was of help in check of knowledge in real time (86%), enhancing participation (61%); 62% suggest extending this experience to selected courses, 38% to all. Conclusions Medical students consider dialysis an important part of the academic teaching of Nephrology; new interfaces may help to enhance student satisfaction.

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Residents as Role Models: The Effect of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship on Medical Students' Career Interest

Journal of Graduate Medical Education ◽

10.4300/jgme-d-09-00070.1 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 341-345 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Judy C. Chang ◽

Michele R. Odrobina ◽

Kathleen McIntyre-Seltman

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Role Models ◽

Teaching Quality ◽

Bivariate Analysis ◽

Obstetrics And Gynecology ◽

General Interest ◽

Career Interest ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Hands On ◽

Fourth Year Medical Students

Abstract Background Medical students' choice of residency specialty is based in part on their clerkship experience. Postclerkship interest in a particular specialty is associated with the students' choice to pursue a career in that field. But, many medical students have a poor perception of their obstetrics and gynecology clerkships. Objective To determine whether fourth-year medical students' perceptions of teaching quality and quantity and amount of experiential learning during the obstetrics-gynecology clerkship helped determine their interest in obstetrics-gynecology as a career choice. Methods We distributed an anonymous, self-administered survey to all third-year medical students rotating through their required obstetrics and gynecology clerkship from November 2006 to May 2007. We performed bivariate analysis and used χ2 analysis to explore factors associated with general interest in obstetrics and gynecology and interest in pursuing obstetrics and gynecology as a career. Results Eighty-one students (N = 91, 89% response rate) participated. Postclerkship career interest in obstetrics and gynecology was associated with perceptions that the residents behaved professionally (P < .0001) and that the students were treated as part of a team (P = .008). Having clear expectations on labor and delivery procedures (P = .014) was associated with postclerkship career interest. Specific hands-on experiences were not statistically associated with postclerkship career interest. However, performing more speculum examinations in the operating room trended toward having some influence (P = .068). Although more women than men were interested in obstetrics and gynecology as a career both before (P = .027) and after (P = .014) the clerkship, men were more likely to increase their level of career interest during the clerkship (P = .024). Conclusions Clerkship factors associated with greater postclerkship interest include higher satisfaction with resident professional behavior and students' sense of inclusion in the clinical team. Obstetrics and gynecology programs need to emphasize to residents their role as educators and professional role models for medical students.

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Evaluation of an Ophthalmology Session for Third-Year Medical Students at the University of Colorado School of Medicine

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1631880 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (01) ◽

pp. e23-e31

Author(s):

Judas Kelley ◽

Jasleen Singh

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Test Score ◽

Clinical Skills ◽

Medical Knowledge ◽

Colorado School ◽

Self Reflection ◽

University Of Colorado ◽

School Of Medicine ◽

Post Test ◽

The University

Background Medical school ophthalmology education continues to be marginalized, creating the challenge of teaching students how to adequately diagnose and manage common ocular diseases in a limited time. Objective This study aimed to improve the ophthalmic medical knowledge and clinical skills of third-year medical students. Methods This curriculum was provided to 76 out of 124 third-year medical students in the 2016 class at the University of Colorado-Denver School of Medicine program. It was a half-day session that incorporated lectures, problem-based cases, and clinical skills. Participating students were given a self-reflection survey on their knowledge at the beginning and end of the session. Participating students were given a pre-test and post-test 6 months later via SurveyMonkey. Another quiz was given to all students within the class. Comparisons of pre- and post-tests, pre- and post-surveys, and quiz results in the participating and nonparticipating groups were made. Results Participating students' mean pre-test score was 61.8% (n = 76) and post-test score was 72.3% (n = 47), p < 0.01, indicating a significant increase in knowledge. There was an increase in 2 points on the Likert scale of understanding in ophthalmology between surveys. Participating students received a quiz mean score of 61.2%, which was significantly higher than those in the nonparticipating group (54.3%), p < 0.05. Conclusion This session improved medical students' confidence and medical knowledge in ophthalmology.

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Undergraduate Radiology Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of Teaching and Learning Strategies

Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal ◽

10.1177/0846537120944821 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 084653712094482 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kathryn E. Darras ◽

Rebecca J. Spouge ◽

Anique B. H. de Bruin ◽

Anto Sedlic ◽

Cameron Hague ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Learning Environment ◽

Learning Strategies ◽

Teaching And Learning ◽

Clinical Teaching ◽

Clinical Skills ◽

Clinical Learning Environment ◽

Radiology Education ◽

Case Based Learning ◽

E Learning

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has altered how medical education is delivered, worldwide. Didactic sessions have transitioned to electronic/online platforms and clinical teaching opportunities are limited. These changes will affect how radiology is taught to medical students at both the pre-clerkship (ie, year 1 and 2) and clinical (ie, year 3 and 4) levels. In the pre-clerkship learning environment, medical students are typically exposed to radiology through didactic lectures, integrated anatomy laboratories, case-based learning, and ultrasound clinical skills sessions. In the clinical learning environment, medical students primarily shadow radiologists and radiology residents and attend radiology resident teaching sessions. These formats of radiology education, which have been the tenets of the specialty, pose significant challenges during the pandemic. This article reviews how undergraduate radiology education is affected by COVID-19 and explores solutions for teaching and learning based on e-learning and blended learning theory.

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