title: An evaluation of the effectiveness of a computer simulation of anaesthetic uptake and distribution as a teaching tool.
abstract: Gas Man is an interactive, microcomputer-based simulation and tutorial designed to teach the principles of anaesthetic uptake and distribution. Using two resident groups, one at a primary university-teaching hospital and the other at a medical school affiliated community hospital, the authors compared residents' knowledge of the subject prior to exposure to the tutorial and the average time spent using the program during a self-paced instruction period. Both groups not only significantly improved their knowledge of uptake and distribution 8 weeks after using this program, but wished to spend additional time with it, implying that it was a pleasant and satisfying way to learn. Computer simulation has the potential to be an important teaching tool in an anaesthesia residency training programme.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Garfield
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paskin
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Philip
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008838:Microcomputers
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics