Demonstration of nasogastric intubation using video compact disc as an adjunct to the teaching processes

An in-house produced video compact disc (VCD) demonstrating nasogastric intubation was introduced to the medical curriculum at Buddhachinaraj Hospital, Clinical Teaching Centre, Phitsanulok in 2005.

The present study aimed to qualitatively evaluate the effect of the VCD on our medical students' procedural skills.

The 6th year medical students were randomly allocated into two groups; one group viewed the VCD (test, n = 30), and the other group did not (control, n = 31). After 2 months, the authors examined all students by asking them to perform the procedure using a manikin and a checklist. The examiners were blind to the allocations at the time of examination. Unpaired t-tests and Chi-square tests were used Data are expressed as mean and SD.

Total checklist's score was 20. There was no diference in terms of age or gender between the two groups. Thirty of 61 medical students who had watched the VCD got an average score of 15.9 +/-1.86, while the control group's average score was 13.2+/-1.94. Statistical analyses showed that the difference was significant (p < 0.0001).

The medical students were able to self-improve their procedural skills of nasogastric intubation after viewing the VCD. Application of this method to other basic procedures may be useful.