Validation and Testing of an E-Learning Module Teaching Core Urinary Incontinence Objectives in a Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Urology
• Gynecology

Background:

• Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common condition requiring adequate medical knowledge.
• Traditional medical education methods may not fully equip students with essential UI knowledge.
• E-learning modules (ELMs) offer a flexible and potentially effective educational tool.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a validated urinary incontinence e-learning module (UI-ELM).
• To compare the UI-ELM's effectiveness against standard learning methods in undergraduate medical education.
• To assess knowledge acquisition in UI among third-year medical students.

Main Methods:

• A randomized-controlled trial and nested-cohort study design.
• Development and validation of a UI-ELM and a 21-item knowledge assessment.
• Comparison of UI-ELM intervention group with a control group (no intervention) and a urogynecology (UroGyn) rotation group.

Main Results:

• Students using the UI-ELM showed significantly greater score improvement than the control group (P = 0.02).
• Knowledge improvement was comparable between the UI-ELM group and the UroGyn rotation group (P = 0.35).
• Eighty-three students participated, with 55 randomized in the GYN rotation and 28 in the UroGyn cohort.

Conclusions:

• The UI-ELM effectively enhanced UI knowledge in third-year medical students.
• The e-learning approach proved superior to traditional learning methods for UI education.
• UI-ELM efficacy was comparable to learning gained during a UroGyn rotation.