Development and evaluation of an interactive multimedia clinical skills teaching program designed for the pediatric clerkship.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the physical-examination section of a multimedia program developed to teach infant history and physical-examination skills.


METHODS
A total of 71 students participated: one group viewed only the physical-examination section (PX), one the history section (HX), one none of the program (CX). We assessed physical-examination skills by direct observation of medical students performing an abdominal exam and scored using a checklist at baseline, immediately after intervention, and at the end of the pediatric clerkship. We analyzed results using analysis of variance with repeated measures.


RESULTS
Baseline scores were PX = 2.5, HX = 2.8. The PX group scored significantly higher immediately postintervention at 6.8 compared to the HX group (3.1). At the end of the clerkship, significant differences between the groups remained. Final group mean scores were PX = 5.5, HX = 4.4, and CX = 2.7.


CONCLUSIONS
The program improved examination skills with attenuation over 6 weeks.
Frisby
Anthony J
AJ
Academic Instructional Support and Resources, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA. Tony.Frisby@jefferson.edu
Lane
J Lindsey
JL
Carr
Anna Marie
AM
Ross
Ellen
E
Gottlieb
Ruth P
RP
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000379:methods*; D003479:Curriculum; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008487:Medical History Taking; D019212:Multimedia; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D010808:Physical Examination; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013337:Students, Medical; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*