%0 Journal Article
%T Reinforcing outpatient medical student learning using brief computer tutorials: the Patient-Teacher-Tutorial sequence
%A Pusic Martin V
%A MacDonald Wendy A
%A Eisman Harley O
%A Black John B
%J BMC Medical Education
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1472-6920-12-70
%X Background At present, what students read after an outpatient encounter is largely left up to them. Our objective was to evaluate the education efficacy of a clinical education model in which the student moves through a sequence that includes immediately reinforcing their learning using a specifically designed computer tutorial. Methods Prior to a 14-day Pediatric Emergency rotation, medical students completed pre-tests for two common pediatric topics: Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) and Fever Without Source (FWS). After encountering a patient with either FWS or a patient needing ORS, the student logged into a computer that randomly assigned them to either a) completing a relevant computer tutorial (e.g. FWS patient + FWS tutorial = ¡°in sequence¡±) or b) completing the non-relevant tutorial (e.g. FWS patient + ORS tutorial = ¡°out of sequence¡±). At the end of their rotation, they were tested again on both topics. Our main outcome was post-test scores on a given tutorial topic, contrasted by whether done in- or out-of-sequence. Results Ninety-two students completed the study protocol with 41 in the ¡®in sequence¡¯ group. Pre-test scores did not differ significantly. Overall, doing a computer tutorial in sequence resulted in significantly greater post-test scores (z-score 1.1 (SD 0.70) in sequence vs. 0.52 (1.1) out-of-sequence; 95% CI for difference +0.16, +0.93). Students spent longer on the tutorials when they were done in sequence (12.1 min (SD 7.3) vs. 10.5 (6.5)) though the difference was not statistically significant (95% CI diff: -1.2 min, +4.5). Conclusions Outpatient learning frameworks could be structured to take best advantage of the heightened learning potential created by patient encounters. We propose the Patient-Teacher-Tutorial sequence as a framework for organizing learning in outpatient clinical settings.
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6920/12/70