Breath of Knowledge: An Interactive Computer-Based Program and Group Exercise to Teach Gas Exchange

Background: Foundational principles of pulmonary gas exchange are complicated and can be difficult for trainees to master. Computer-based programs can provide opportunities for interactive instruction, but previous literature has not demonstrated the impact of such programs on learning this topic. Objective: To evaluate whether the addition of an interactive, clinically relevant computer-based gas exchange program and small-group exercise to reinforce principles of gas exchange improves medical student learning as measured by performance on relevant multiple-choice exam questions. Methods: This was a pre-post study design surrounding the implementation of a gas exchange program used during a small-group session with students working through a manual of prepared experiments during the 2023-2024 academic year at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Student examination scores before program implementation (academic year 2022-23) were compared with student examination scores after program implementation. Questions were dichotomized a priori based on their relevance to the principles reinforced by the program. Student perceptions of the program were assessed by a postcourse survey. Results: When comparing the control (n = 106) and intervention (n = 114) groups, scores improved for both non-gas exchange questions (P < 0.001) and gas exchange questions (P < 0.001). Although the improvement in gas exchange questions was greater than in other questions, this difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.09 for the interaction term). Most students were satisfied with the program and rated it more useful than a traditional didactic lecture. Conclusion: At a time when medical school instruction is dominated by lectures with few laboratory-based exercises, we offer this interactive, computer-based program as a strategy to reinforce principles of gas exchange. By tailoring accompanying cases and exercises to different groups of learners, this resource can be implemented in diverse settings.