title: Comparison of computer-assisted instruction and seminar instruction to acquire psychomotor and cognitive knowledge of epistaxis management.
abstract: Epistaxis is a common problem faced by primary care physicians. Typically, first-hand experience with this problem is not obtained in medical school. A computer learning module was developed to address practical management of epistaxis. It was evaluated by use of third-year clerks and compared with an interactive seminar based on the same material. Fifty-eight students doing their required otolaryngology rotations were randomly separated into 3 groups: (1) doing a preinstruction test, (2) using the computer module, and (3) participating in a small-group seminar. All participants were tested with a short written test and a practical test that involved performing anterior nasal pack placement in a model patient. Percentage scores for the 2 groups were compared by use of t tests, and there was no significant difference between the written, practical, or combined scores at a level where P = 0.05. This study shows that basic patient management and a simple procedure can be taught as effectively with a computer module as with a small-group interactive seminar.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Education, Department of Otolaryngology, Toronto Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Reznick
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003479:Curriculum; D004493:Education; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012984:Software