Teaching internal medicine residents to care for reproductive-age and pregnant women: an effective Web-based curriculum.
BACKGROUND
We sought to determine whether a Web-based curriculum could improve internal medicine residents' perceived preparedness and knowledge in the areas of preconception care, infertility evaluation, and management of medical conditions during pregnancy. Training in these areas has been previously identified as inadequate.


METHODS
Three Web-based modules were developed to teach these topics. Seventy residents at one institution were invited to complete the modules and to participate in the curriculum's evaluation over 6 months.


RESULTS
Paper questionnaires assessed preparedness and comfort level among all participants. Web-based surveys that assessed pre/postknowledge and satisfaction among module completers accompanied each module. Ninety-seven percent completed paper questionnaires, and 59% completed 1 or more modules. At the end of the study period, module completers felt significantly more prepared than noncompleters, and improvement in comfort level was strongly associated with the number of modules completed. Knowledge improved significantly with module completion and curricular satisfaction was high.


CONCLUSIONS
A Web-based approach to teaching these topics to internal medicine residents increased knowledge and perceived preparedness and was well received.
Spagnoletti
Carla L
CL
Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. spagnoletticl@upmc.edu
Sanders
Aimee M
AM
McGee
James B
JB
Bost
James E
JE
McNeil
Melissa A
MA
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education*; D020407:Internet; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011247:Pregnancy; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires