Electronic learning can facilitate student performance in undergraduate surgical education: a prospective observational study.
BACKGROUND
Our institution recently introduced a novel internet accessible computer aided learning (iCAL) programme to complement existing surgical undergraduate teaching methods. On graduation of the first full cycle of undergraduate students to whom this resource was available we assessed the utility of this new teaching facility.


METHODS
The computer programme prospectively records usage of the system on an individual user basis. We evaluated the utilisation of the web-based programme and its impact on class ranking changes from an entry-test evaluation to an exit examination in surgery.


RESULTS
74.4% of students were able to access iCAL from off-campus internet access. The majority of iCAL usage (64.6%) took place during working hours (08:00-18:00) with little usage on the weekend (21.1%). Working hours usage was positively associated with improvement in class rank (P = 0.025, n = 148) but out-of hours usage was not (P = 0.306). Usage during weekdays was associated with improved rank (P = 0.04), whereas weekend usage was not (P = 0.504). There were no significant differences in usage between genders (P = 0.3). Usage of the iCAL system was positively correlated with improvement in class rank from the entry to the exit examination (P = 0.046). Students with lower ranks on entry examination, were found to use the computer system more frequently (P = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Electronic learning complements traditional teaching methods in undergraduate surgical teaching. Its is more frequently used by students achieving lower class ranking with traditional teaching methods, and this usage is associated with improvements in class ranking.
Department of Surgery, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Eccles St, Dublin 7, Ireland. davidghealy@eircom.net
David Gerard
DG
Healy
Fergal J
FJ
Fleming
David
D
Gilhooley
Patrick
P
Felle
Alfred Edward
AE
Wood
Thomas
T
Gorey
Enda W
EW
McDermott
John M
JM
Fitzpatrick
Niall J
NJ
O'Higgins
Arnold D K
AD
Hill
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020375:Education, Distance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D014584:User-Computer Interface