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E-learning to teach medical students about acute otitis media: A randomized controlled trial
Sarah Mousseau1, Maude Poitras1, Annie Lapointe2
1Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Insights
E-learning modules and lectures showed similar results for diagnosing acute otitis media (AOM) in children. However, medical students preferred the e-learning format for AOM diagnosis training.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Diagnostic Accuracy
Background:
- Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common childhood illness with challenging diagnoses.
- Accurate AOM diagnosis in pediatric patients is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of an e-learning module on medical students' accuracy in diagnosing pediatric AOM.
- To compare diagnostic accuracy between e-learning and traditional lecture-based AOM training.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving medical students in a pediatric emergency department.
- Students were assigned to either an e-learning module or a small-group lecture on AOM.
- Diagnostic accuracy, knowledge scores, and learning modality preference were assessed.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in diagnostic accuracy for AOM between the e-learning and lecture groups (76.5% vs. 76.4%).
- Knowledge test scores were also similar between the two learning modalities.
- A majority of students (62%) preferred the e-learning module over the lecture format.
Conclusions:
- E-learning modules are as effective as traditional lectures for improving AOM diagnostic accuracy in medical students.
- E-learning is a preferred learning modality among students for AOM education.
- Future medical education may benefit from incorporating preferred e-learning strategies.
Objectives:
Acute otitis media (AOM) is extremely prevalent among children but its diagnosis remains challenging. Our primary objective was to measure the impact of an e-learning module on medical students' accuracy in diagnosing paediatric AOM.
Methods:
This randomized controlled trial was performed at a single tertiary care paediatric emergency department (ED). Medical students on their paediatric rotation were randomized to a locally developed e-learning module or a small-group lecture on AOM. They then had to examine at least 10 ears of patients at risk for AOM. The primary outcome was diagnostic accuracy and secondary outcomes included knowledge test scores and learning modality preference.
Results:
Between May 2017 and September 2018, 201 medical students were randomized. Eighty-three evaluated at least 10 ears and were included in the primary analysis. Diagnostic accuracies (76.5% for the e-learning group versus 76.4% for the lecture group, difference of 0.1%; 95%CI: -6.2 to 6.4%) and post-test scores (difference of 0.5/20 points; 95%CI: -0.8 to 1.2/20 points) were similar between the groups. Sixty-two per cent of participants preferred the e-learning module to the lecture, while 15% had no preference.
Conclusions:
Diagnostic accuracy for AOM was similar between students exposed to an e-learning module or a small-group lecture. E-learning was the preferred learning modality.
