Evidence for a case-based module in the low-resource setting to teach ectopic pregnancy management

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Global Health

Background:

• Case-based learning (CBL) enhances adult learning by connecting theory to clinical practice.
• Ectopic pregnancy management requires specialized knowledge, particularly in resource-limited settings.
• Web-based educational modules offer scalable solutions for medical training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of a web-based CBL module for ectopic pregnancy management.
• To assess the effectiveness of the module in improving learner knowledge in low-resource settings.
• To provide evidence supporting the use of digital learning tools in underserved surgical education.

Main Methods:

• An open-source, web-based CBL module on ectopic pregnancy was developed by an international team.
• The module underwent expert review for content, relevance, and clarity.
• Twenty participants (surgeons, residents, medical students) from Ethiopia, Cameroon, and the US completed pre- and post-tests, analyzed using paired t-tests and Rasch modeling.

Main Results:

• Participants showed a statistically significant improvement in post-test scores compared to pre-test scores (P < 0.0001).
• Rasch analysis confirmed the significant knowledge gain (P < 0.001).
• The module demonstrated good question discrimination between experts and novices, with no significant score differences across specialties.

Conclusions:

• Web-based CBL modules can effectively enhance understanding of ectopic pregnancy management in low-resource settings.
• This educational approach is particularly beneficial for nascent surgeons in remote areas lacking access to traditional training resources.
• The study provides psychometric evidence for the utility of this digital learning tool in global surgical education.