An interactive web-based project to stimulate internal medicine resident reading using board-type questions

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Internal Medicine Residency Training

Background:

• Restricted resident work hours impact participation in traditional educational activities.
• Need for alternative, flexible educational strategies in internal medicine residency programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an email-based educational program for internal medicine residents.
• To assess resident participation, performance, and perceived usefulness of the email-based curriculum.

Main Methods:

• A 10-month study involving weekly clinical case-based questions sent via email to residents.
• Data collection on participation rates, correct answer percentages, and electronic interactions.
• Anonymous survey to gauge resident satisfaction and perceived program utility.

Main Results:

• Mean participation rate of 69% across question sets.
• Mean correct answer rate of 70% among residents.
• 96% of residents found the email-based program useful; 73% of question sets prompted faculty interaction.

Conclusions:

• Email-based case questions can supplement internal medicine residency curriculum effectively.
• The program offers valuable practice with board-type questions without replacing traditional activities.
• High resident engagement and satisfaction suggest a viable alternative educational tool.