The efficacy of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in an outpatient pediatrics clinic.

This prospective study was done to measure the effectiveness of a CAI program in teaching outpatient pediatrics to third-year medical students, as measured by their scores on the mandatory pediatrics examination taken at the end of their pediatrics rotation. A significant difference was found between the number of students receiving Honors vs. Satisfactory scores on their examinations between those who worked at our hospital before vs. after the CAI program became available; there was also a statistically significant difference between the number of students who received Honors on their pediatrics examinations when comparing the Harborview-after-computer group to the Other-locations-after-computer group. Such a CAI program appears to be an effective learning aid for medical students doing their outpatient pediatrics rotations. It affords information about costs to the patient, is omnipresent and is an effective alternative to either lecture or reading as a method of learning.