Scoping Review: Innovations in Clinical Neurology Education

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Neurology
• Educational Technology

Background:

• Adult learning theories and instructional technologies offer opportunities to enhance neurology knowledge acquisition.
• Clinical neurology education faces evolving challenges in knowledge transfer and skill development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of educational innovations in clinical neurology from 2010 onwards.
• To identify and categorize emerging teaching methods and technologies used in neurology education.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed across multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, etc.) on November 4, 2021.
• Studies involving innovative teaching methods for medical students to physician-level learners were included; established methods and undergraduate interventions were excluded.
• Included studies were evaluated using the Kirkpatrick model for outcome assessment and an author-driven innovation rating.

Main Results:

• A total of 350 studies were selected for analysis, with a significant increase in publications from 2020-2021 compared to 2010-2011.
• Simulation and eLearning were the most frequently reported innovations, followed by 3D modeling, virtual/augmented reality, and digital/social media applications.
• Most studies reported low-level outcomes (learner perception, knowledge acquisition) and lacked data on sustainability, transferability, and the novelty of innovations.

Conclusions:

• There has been a substantial rise in reported educational innovations in clinical neurology, especially in simulation and eLearning.
• However, the majority of these innovations lack robust evaluation of their validity, effectiveness, sustainability, and transferability.
• Further research is needed to rigorously assess the impact and applicability of novel educational methods in neurology.