scholarly journals Offline Digital Education for Medical Students: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by the Digital Health Education Collaboration

10.2196/13165 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. e13165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhone Myint Kyaw ◽  
Pawel Posadzki ◽  
Gerard Dunleavy ◽  
Monika Semwal ◽  
Ushashree Divakar ◽  
...  

10.2196/12937 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. e12937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerard Dunleavy ◽  
Charoula Konstantia Nikolaou ◽  
Sokratis Nifakos ◽  
Rifat Atun ◽  
Gloria Chun Yi Law ◽  
...  


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhone Myint Kyaw ◽  
Lorainne Tudor Car ◽  
Louise Sandra van Galen ◽  
Michiel A van Agtmael ◽  
Céire E. Costelloe ◽  
...  


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pawel Posadzki ◽  
Malgorzata M Bala ◽  
Bhone Myint Kyaw ◽  
Monika Semwal ◽  
Ushashree Divakar ◽  
...  


10.2196/13868 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. e13868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ushashree Divakar ◽  
Nuraini Nazeha ◽  
Pawel Posadzki ◽  
Krister Jarbrink ◽  
Ram Bajpai ◽  
...  


10.2196/20316 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. e20316
Author(s):  
Pawel Posadzki ◽  
Malgorzata M Bala ◽  
Bhone Myint Kyaw ◽  
Monika Semwal ◽  
Ushashree Divakar ◽  
...  



Author(s):  
Pawel Posadzki ◽  
Malgorzata M Bala ◽  
Bhone Myint Kyaw ◽  
Monika Semwal ◽  
Ushashree Divakar ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The shortage and disproportionate distribution of health care workers worldwide is further aggravated by the inadequacy of training programs, difficulties in implementing conventional curricula, deficiencies in learning infrastructure, or a lack of essential equipment. Offline digital education has the potential to improve the quality of health professions education. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of offline digital education compared with various controls in improving learners’ knowledge, skills, attitudes, satisfaction, and patient-related outcomes. The secondary objectives were (1) to assess the cost-effectiveness of the interventions and (2) to assess adverse effects of the interventions on patients and learners. METHODS We searched 7 electronic databases and 2 trial registries for randomized controlled trials published between January 1990 and August 2017. We used Cochrane systematic review methods. RESULTS A total of 27 trials involving 4618 individuals were included in this systematic review. Meta-analyses found that compared with no intervention, offline digital education (CD-ROM) may increase knowledge in nurses (standardized mean difference [SMD]=1.88; 95% CI 1.14 to 2.62; participants=300; studies=3; I2=80%; low certainty evidence). A meta-analysis of 2 studies found that compared with no intervention, the effects of offline digital education (computer-assisted training [CAT]) on nurses and physical therapists’ knowledge were uncertain (SMD 0.55; 95% CI –0.39 to 1.50; participants=64; I2=71%; very low certainty evidence). A meta-analysis of 2 studies found that compared with traditional learning, a PowerPoint presentation may improve the knowledge of patient care personnel and pharmacists (SMD 0.76; 95% CI 0.29 to 1.23; participants=167; I2=54%; low certainty evidence). A meta-analysis of 4 studies found that compared with traditional training, the effects of computer-assisted training on skills in community (mental health) therapists, nurses, and pharmacists were uncertain (SMD 0.45; 95% CI –0.35 to 1.25; participants=229; I2=88%; very low certainty evidence). A meta-analysis of 4 studies found that compared with traditional training, offline digital education may have little effect or no difference on satisfaction scores in nurses and mental health therapists (SMD –0.07; 95% CI –0.42 to 0.28, participants=232; I2=41%; low certainty evidence). A total of 2 studies found that offline digital education may have little or no effect on patient-centered outcomes when compared with blended learning. For skills and attitudes, the results were mixed and inconclusive. None of the studies reported adverse or unintended effects of the interventions. Only 1 study reported costs of interventions. The risk of bias was predominantly unclear and the certainty of the evidence ranged from low to very low. CONCLUSIONS There is some evidence to support the effectiveness of offline digital education in improving learners’ knowledge and insufficient quality and quantity evidence for the other outcomes. Future high-quality studies are needed to increase generalizability and inform use of this modality of education.



10.2196/13000 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. e13000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Semwal ◽  
Penny Whiting ◽  
Ram Bajpai ◽  
Shweta Bajpai ◽  
Bhone Myint Kyaw ◽  
...  


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhone Myint Kyaw ◽  
Pawel Posadzki ◽  
Gerard Dunleavy ◽  
Monika Semwal ◽  
Ushashree Divakar ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Medical schools in low- and middle-income countries are facing a shortage of staff, limited infrastructure, and restricted access to fast and reliable internet. Offline digital education may be an alternative solution for these issues, allowing medical students to learn at their own time and pace, without the need for a network connection. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of offline digital education compared with traditional learning or a different form of offline digital education such as CD-ROM or PowerPoint presentations in improving knowledge, skills, attitudes, and satisfaction of medical students. The secondary objective was to assess the cost-effectiveness of offline digital education, changes in its accessibility or availability, and its unintended/adverse effects on students. METHODS We carried out a systematic review of the literature by following the Cochrane methodology. We searched seven major electronic databases from January 1990 to August 2017 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or cluster RCTs. Two authors independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. We assessed the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations criteria. RESULTS We included 36 studies with 3325 medical students, of which 33 were RCTs and three were cluster RCTs. The interventions consisted of software programs, CD-ROMs, PowerPoint presentations, computer-based videos, and other computer-based interventions. The pooled estimate of 19 studies (1717 participants) showed no significant difference between offline digital education and traditional learning groups in terms of students’ postintervention knowledge scores (standardized mean difference=0.11, 95% CI –0.11 to 0.32; small effect size; low-quality evidence). Meta-analysis of four studies found that, compared with traditional learning, offline digital education improved medical students’ postintervention skills (standardized mean difference=1.05, 95% CI 0.15-1.95; large effect size; low-quality evidence). We are uncertain about the effects of offline digital education on students’ attitudes and satisfaction due to missing or incomplete outcome data. Only four studies estimated the costs of offline digital education, and none reported changes in accessibility or availability of such education or in the adverse effects. The risk of bias was predominantly high in more than half of the included studies. The overall quality of the evidence was low (for knowledge, skills, attitudes, and satisfaction) due to the study limitations and inconsistency across the studies. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that offline digital education is as effective as traditional learning in terms of medical students’ knowledge and may be more effective than traditional learning in terms of medical students’ skills. However, there is a need to further investigate students’ attitudes and satisfaction with offline digital education as well as its cost-effectiveness, changes in its accessibility or availability, and any resulting unintended/adverse effects.



10.2196/12998 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. e12998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayfaa Abdelmageed Wahabi ◽  
Samia Ahmed Esmaeil ◽  
Khawater Hassan Bahkali ◽  
Maher Abdelraheim Titi ◽  
Yasser Sami Amer ◽  
...  




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