A cardiological web as an adjunct to medical teaching: prospective analysis

The aim of the study was to deliver and evaluate an educational web for medical students. A web of the complete cardiovascular course was prepared as an adjunct educational material for the classes. The use and utility of the web was assessed through a questionnaire (frequency of use, impact on in-class attendance and students' satisfaction). The number of visits, the time of the week and the hour when the web was used were registered. A total of 76 students returned the questionnaire. The web was available for 10 weeks and was visited 1062 times, especially at weekends. An increase in visits was noted prior to final examination. The web was accessed preferentially from the faculty or hospital computers. The quality of the web was assessed and rated a mean of 7.7 (score: 1-10); 93.4% students attended the class, but the web freed them from transcribing the contents; 88.2% of students evaluated the web as a useful or very useful adjunct to medical teaching. The Internet can be used to deliver learning in medical students and could be considered as added value to the pedagogic process and did not deter students from attending ordinary classes.