BACKGROUND: The internet CD-ROM thoracic surgery (TS) e-learning system was implemented in 2001 as a prospective randomized trial testing resident acceptance and educational impact of a unique web-based curriculum system on prematriculated TS residents. The Prerequisite Curriculum (PRC) contains 75 segments organized with textbook and case-based navigational systems. METHODS: Web-based technology tracked the PRC use for each resident. Of 142 residents, 138 thoracic surgery residents matching in 2001 for 2002 matriculation participated in a prospective randomized trial comparing the PRC system to a control group. Two sets of in-training exams, as well as resident and faculty knowledge/performance surveys, were used from July 2001 through January 2004 for ongoing, blinded multidimensional evaluation. RESULTS: Most residents (55/69) responded to the written prematriculation surveys and indicated they used the PRC (43/55), averaging 1.45 hours weekly. The PRC was rated as easy to use (8.3/10), a valuable study guide (7.7/10), and superior to traditional texts and journals for preresidency preparation (7.9/10). Web-based tracking revealed that 47/69 actually used the PRC. Sessions averaged 23.3 minutes with an average of 148 sessions over the prematriculation year. The in-training exam performance when evaluated at 1 and 9 months into the TS residency revealed a positive correlation between examination performance and PRC use. After TS residency matriculation, the self-evaluated knowledge and performance satisfaction scores were superior among PRC users in all categories. Simultaneous TS faculty evaluations of the same resident groups demonstrated smaller, but significant group differences. CONCLUSION: The implementation of the TS PRC has been exciting and successful. Future multidisciplinary curricular progress will hopefully continue to build upon this e-learning strategy.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: The internet CD-ROM thoracic surgery (TS) e-learning system was implemented in 2001 as a prospective randomized trial testing resident acceptance and educational impact of a unique web-based curriculum system on prematriculated TS residents. The Prerequisite Curriculum (PRC) contains 75 segments organized with textbook and case-based navigational systems. METHODS: Web-based technology tracked the PRC use for each resident. Of 142 residents, 138 thoracic surgery residents matching in 2001 for 2002 matriculation participated in a prospective randomized trial comparing the PRC system to a control group. Two sets of in-training exams, as well as resident and faculty knowledge/performance surveys, were used from July 2001 through January 2004 for ongoing, blinded multidimensional evaluation. RESULTS: Most residents (55/69) responded to the written prematriculation surveys and indicated they used the PRC (43/55), averaging 1.45 hours weekly. The PRC was rated as easy to use (8.3/10), a valuable study guide (7.7/10), and superior to traditional texts and journals for preresidency preparation (7.9/10). Web-based tracking revealed that 47/69 actually used the PRC. Sessions averaged 23.3 minutes with an average of 148 sessions over the prematriculation year. The in-training exam performance when evaluated at 1 and 9 months into the TS residency revealed a positive correlation between examination performance and PRC use. After TS residency matriculation, the self-evaluated knowledge and performance satisfaction scores were superior among PRC users in all categories. Simultaneous TS faculty evaluations of the same resident groups demonstrated smaller, but significant group differences. CONCLUSION: The implementation of the TS PRC has been exciting and successful. Future multidisciplinary curricular progress will hopefully continue to build upon this e-learning strategy.
Authors: Horst C Vollmar; Herbert Mayer; Thomas Ostermann; Martin E Butzlaff; John E Sandars; Stefan Wilm; Monika A Rieger Journal: Implement Sci Date: 2010-01-04 Impact factor: 7.327
Authors: Horst Christian Vollmar; Monika A Rieger; Martin E Butzlaff; Thomas Ostermann Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2009-02-16 Impact factor: 2.655