Use of notebook computers for third-year surgical students

Computer-aided instruction has become increasingly popular in medical education. Notebook computers (NCs) are attractive, convenient microcomputers. We hypothesized that use of NCs by third-year surgical students would enhance their performance of educational activities.

During the 1994-1995 academic year 25 student volunteers used NCs during the surgery clerkship. NC software included questions for self-examination, anatomy self-instruction program, word processing and electronic mail (e-mail) for recording and sending history and physicals (H & Ps) to faculty for review, and MEDLINE search software. Identical software was available to all students at on-campus computer centers. All students were asked to record the number of hours that they used the self-examination and anatomy programs, number of H & Ps performed and reviewed by faculty, and number of literature searches performed. NC users were interviewed regarding the value of NC use and their rating of software programs.

NC users (n = 25) used the self-examination and anatomy programs more often, performed more literature searches, and had a greater percentage of their H & Ps reviewed by faculty compared with non-NC users (n = 143) (p < 0.05 for all outcomes). Most NC users agreed that NC use was enjoyable and valuable, and they believed that all students should have NCs during the surgery clerkship. Students rated software in order of preference: e-mail > self-examination > MEDLINE search > anatomy program.

NC use enhanced performance of educational activities in the surgery clerkship. Effort toward developing educational software for surgical students is warranted because students are likely to use such programs.