Development and evaluation of a multimedia e-learning resource for electrolyte and acid-base disorders

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Nephrology
• Computational Medicine

Background:

• Managing electrolyte and acid-base disorders requires complex clinical reasoning.
• Traditional teaching methods may not fully engage learners in practical application.
• A need exists for innovative educational tools in this specialized medical field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a web-based application for learning electrolyte and acid-base disorder management.
• To assess the usability and educational effectiveness of the Electrolyte Workshop.
• To provide a conceptual, quantitative, and problem-solving approach to learning.

Main Methods:

• Development of an interactive web application (Electrolyte Workshop) using Flash.
• Incorporation of case-based tutorials with an interactive treatment simulation.
• Iterative design process and evaluation through user testing with internal medicine residents and specialists.

Main Results:

• The Electrolyte Workshop achieved a mean System Usability Scale score of 78.4 ± 13.8, indicating good usability.
• User testing revealed participants found the content scientifically sound and the teaching approach clear.
• Participants reported increased understanding of hyponatremia and a willingness to recommend the resource.

Conclusions:

• The developed web application is a usable and effective tool for learning electrolyte and acid-base disorder management.
• The conceptual and quantitative teaching approach enhances learner engagement and understanding.
• Interactive simulations can significantly improve the learning experience for complex medical topics.