The Effects of an E-learning Module on Medical Trainees Rotating on a Perioperative Medicine Clinical Service

Dedicated perioperative care can be cost-effective and improve patient outcomes. Training future physicians to practice perioperative medicine is an important responsibility of medical educators. An e-learning module delivered asynchronously during clinical rotations in perioperative medicine may help to better satisfy this responsibility.

Articulate software was used to create an interactive, 1-hour e-module based on six educational objectives. The e-module was offered as an elective self-directed learning experience to trainees on perioperative medicine clinical rotations, including third- and fourth-year medical students as well as residents from internal medicine, anesthesiology, neurology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation training programs. We assessed the effectiveness of this learning strategy as a complement to real-time clinical experiences by measuring the knowledge, confidence, and satisfaction of trainees before and after completion of the e-module.

Of 113 trainees invited to participate, 75 completed the module and were included in our analysis. Knowledge scores improved for student (p < .001), intern (p < .001), and resident (p < .001) subgroups. Confidence ratings also improved for student (p < .001), intern (p < .001), and resident (p < .001) subgroups. Trainees reported high satisfaction with the e-module, and 60 (87%) reported that it would alter their practice.

An e-module presenting evidence-based, interactive education to trainees during clinical rotations in perioperative medicine was an effective learning strategy. Sharing e-learning tools across institutions may help to deliver standardized education on core clinical topics, including perioperative medicine.