Teaching clinical skills through videotape review: a randomized trial of group versus individual reviews.
BACKGROUND
Video review is a valuable educational tool for teaching communication skills. Many studies have demonstrated its efficacy with individual learners, but few studies have addressed its use in a group format.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the educational benefits of group versus individual video review of standardized patient encounters through the evaluations of 4th-year students at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.


METHODS
Students (128) who participated in a 7-station, standardized patient, clinical competency exam were randomly assigned to an individual or small group video review of selected segments of these encounters in 2000-2001. Students filled out an anonymous 13-item questionnaire assessing the experience and provided open-ended responses.


RESULTS
With both review formats, most students had a positive learning experience (80%), found it less stressful than they expected (67%), and would not have preferred to do the review the other way (84%). Students randomized to individual reviews had a significantly higher level of satisfaction with the amount of time for the session (91% vs. 78%, p < .05) and the amount of feedback they received (95% vs. 79%, p = .01) and were more likely to view the session as a positive learning experience (88% vs. 73%, p < .05). Students in the individual review format were more likely to choose self-assessed weak segments (63% vs. 49%, p = .01). Students' comments indicated that they appreciated the value of peer review in a group setting.


CONCLUSIONS
Although both group reviews and individual reviews of videotaped standardized patient encounters were received well by the students, there were several statistical differences in favor of the individual format.
Parish
Sharon J
SJ
Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA.
Weber
Catherine M
CM
Steiner-Grossman
Penny
P
Milan
Felise B
FB
Burton
William B
WB
Marantz
Paul R
PR
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching; D014743:Videotape Recording