[Emergency medicine online course--integrating into curriculum of computer-based training]

Emergency medicine is characterized by rapid decision making to help patients in life-threatening situations. Teaching these skills requires a high level of interaction between medical students and the lecturer. We designed, implemented, and evaluated a generic computer-based training (CBT) system to provide a more active way of learning emergency medicine. The content of the training program is adapted to the knowledge of third year medical students and is focused on basic skills and real-world problems. The teacher presents the case with authentic video sequences and slides. The cases are classified into four groups: heart (e.g., myocardial infarction), respiration (e.g., asthma bronchiale), trauma (e.g., car accident), and loss of consciousness (e.g., coma). Within a realistic time frame, the students have to answer free text and multiple choice questions on a work-station. All answers given by the students are processed anonymously by the CBT system via a central server and displayed on a large video screen, thus enabling a detailed discussion without intimidation of individual students. This interactive technique allows for immediate feedback from the lecturer based on the specific knowledge of his group and his own experience. The IT concept, which is scalable to many subjects, is based on state of the art internet technology and therefore suitable for teleteaching. A major design objective for the program was a self-explaining and robust user interface. The system has been in routine use since 1998. We designed an evaluation form consisting of 21 items focused on subjective rating of learning success, acceptance of CBT, and technical feasibility. We analyzed forms from 138 students and found high scores for acceptance and learning success (median 5 on a 6-point scale). user problems with the program were denied (median 1 on a 6-point scale). Computer-based training with Internet technology can provide a successful method for interactive teaching of emergency medicine and is well accepted by students.