Audiotape slide teaching: use with automated and simple apparatus

Using a cross-over design trial and a series of 20 audiotape slide programmes on clinical physics and measurement, no difference in teaching effectiveness was found between their use with synchronised automated apparatus and simple manual equipment. In both cases 91% of the main lecture points were immediately recalled and there was a significant gain in knowledge from an average pre-test MCQ score of 43%--76% post-test score. The advantages and disadvantages of automated and simple equipment were discussed. The anaesthetists found the teaching by the tapeslide technique very acceptable, helpful and useful.