Evaluation of a web-based teaching module on examination of the hand.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of an online module in the development of medical students' clinical hand examination skills.


METHODS
We developed a Web-based module to teach examination of the hand to first-year medical students (n = 99) to address the core skills expected in undergraduate medical training in Canada. The module was compared to the standard recommended text and tutor-led teaching using a validated objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and a written knowledge test.


RESULTS
A total of 17 students completed the OSCE from the book-based learning group, 18 from the tutor-led group, and 26 from the online module group. The average total OSCE score was significantly higher for students in the online module group compared to the textbook group (73.2% and 60.5%, respectively; p = 0.003). There was no significant difference between students in the online module and tutor-led groups (73.2% and 69.0%, respectively; p = 0.31). The online module group had a significantly higher mean total knowledge score than the textbook group (8.4 and 5.7, respectively; p < 0.001; maximum score 10) and the tutor-led group (8.4 and 7.4, respectively; p = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study provides evidence that a well designed Web-based module, supported by sound educational theory, is an effective tool in the teaching of musculoskeletal examination skills, and provides some advantages over tutor-led teaching in terms of knowledge retention.
Averns
Henry
H
Queens University, Ontario, Canada.
Maraschiello
Mark
M
van Melle
Elaine
E
Day
Andrew
A
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D006225:Hand / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010808:Physical Examination