The effectiveness of blended learning environments for the delivery of respiratory care education.
BACKGROUND
The undergraduate health professions student of the 21st century is very technology literate. In an attempt to provide these students with a forum to enhance learning, some educators have opted to integrate additional course materials via Internet classrooms while still maintaining the face-to-face interaction between instructor and learner.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed with the student course evaluations and demographics of two groups of respiratory therapy students (one group participated a traditional learning environment and one group participated in a blended learning environment) in a baccalaureate degree program. The author employed SPSS quantitative data analysis software to conduct statistical analysis.


RESULTS
None of the studied variables showed a statistically significant difference (p =0.05). Further testing revealed an expected positive relationship between pre-existing GPA and the final examination grade as well as the final examination grade and the course grade (p = 0.05). No other positive relationships were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
The qualitative analysis implies a difference in satisfaction between cohorts; however, the quantitative analysis of the student evaluations does not provide statistically significant differences for any aspect surveyed in the anonymous standardized questionnaire.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this pilot study favor the continuing practice of blended learning environments as a viable option for course delivery in health care education. The author recommends further study to explore this topic in depth with larger cohorts.
Strickland
Shawna
S
Department of Cardiopulmonary and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, MO 65211, USA. StricklandSL@health.missouri.edu
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000193:education*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013663:Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055815:Young Adult