Free online otolaryngology educational modules: a pilot study.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Otolaryngology residents require accessible, cost-effective educational resources.
• Traditional learning methods may not fully meet the needs of residents between clinical duties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utilization of online video modules by otolaryngology residents.
• To determine the impact of these modules on Otolaryngology Training Examination scores.
• To gather resident feedback on the educational modules.

Main Methods:

• A randomized trial involving 37 otolaryngology residents across 3 institutions.
• Residents were assigned to either access educational modules or a control group.
• Examination scores from before and after module access were compared, with post-intervention surveys conducted.

Main Results:

• Scores in pediatric otolaryngology, otology, and facial plastic surgery improved significantly only in the group with module access.
• Overall examination scores showed improvement in both groups for head and neck, laryngology, and sleep medicine.
• Residents rated the online modules highly, finding them very helpful (4/5 Likert scale).

Conclusions:

• Online modules provide an inexpensive method to supplement otolaryngology resident education.
• While not universally improving exam scores, modules signal a commitment to resident learning and encourage self-study.
• The study highlights the potential of progressive educational tools in otolaryngology training.