Effect of an audience response system on resident learning and retention of lecture material.
OBJECTIVE
In an era of increasing clinical volume and longer workdays, the time devoted to education may be diminished in many medical centers. The goal of our study was to develop techniques for optimizing educational time.


METHODS
Radiology residents in our program were randomized into two groups stratified by level of training. The control group received a standard didactic midday lecture, and the experimental group received the identical lecture material with an audience response system integrated into the lecture delivery.


RESULTS
The group who used the interactive audience response software had significantly higher learning (p = 0.02) and long-term retention (p = 0.001) scores on postlecture quizzes administered to both groups of residents on the day of the lecture and 3 months later.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of appropriate interactive teaching techniques facilitates residents' learning and retention of material. In our study, long-term retention was especially improved with use of an interactive lecture style.
Rubio
Eva Ilse
EI
Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. eva.rubio@cchmc.org
Bassignani
Matthew J
MJ
White
Marney A
MA
Brant
William E
WE
D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D007721:Knowledge of Results, Psychological; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States