Audiovisual facilitation of clinical knowledge: a paradigm for dispersed student education based on Paivio's Dual Coding Theory.

This article explores the application of Paivio's Dual Coding Theory (DCT) as a scientifically sound rationale for the effects of multimedia learning in programs of nurse anesthesia. We explore and highlight this theory as a practical infrastructure for programs that work with dispersed students (ie, distance education models). Exploring the work of Paivio and others, we are engaged in an ongoing outcome study using audiovisual teaching interventions (SBVTIs) that we have applied to a range of healthcare providers in a quasiexperimental model. The early results of that study are reported in this article. In addition, we have observed powerful and sustained learning in a wide range of healthcare providers with our SBVTIs and suggest that this is likely explained by DCT.