title: Online vs live methods for teaching difficult airway management to anesthesiology residents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of traditional and online teaching methods for educating anesthesiology residents in the principles and practice of difficult airway management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two randomly selected groups, each containing 28 physicians enrolled from among residents in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine in Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Residents in Group 1 took a traditional 5-h course on the principles and practice of airway management, which included lectures, slide projection, and dummy demonstrations. The same material was presented to Group 2 in an exclusively online format, which could be individually accessed for a period of 36 h. In the online course, student-instructor interaction was provided through threaded discussion forums during three 30-min real-time question-and-answer sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences in baseline and post-course scores on written tests and practical skills tests were measured. Knowledge gains in Group 2 were slightly, but not significantly, greater compared with Group 1 both in written (P=0.228) and practical skills (P=0.376) tests. Semi-quantitative ratings of learner satisfaction were significantly higher in the online group (P=0.014). Almost all online students (93%) were logged in for at least 45 of the 90 min of real-time question-and-answer sessions. The four instructors spent an average of 144+/-10 min preparing answers and interacting with online students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Online teaching formats may be a valid alternative for teaching residents the principles and practice of difficult airway management. Interaction with instructors seems to be an important element, but it may require substantial time commitments by instructors.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Anestesiologia e Rianimazione, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Policlinico A. Gemelli, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bello
authors.forename: Mariano Alberto
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pennisi
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maviglia
authors.forename: Salvatore Maurizio
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Maggiore
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bocci
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montini
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antonelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000628:therapy*; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D020375:Education, Distance; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies