title: Traditional versus three-dimensional teaching of peritoneal embryogenesis: a comparative prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anatomy teaching is newly boosted by the development of interactive three-dimensional (3D) teaching techniques. Nevertheless, their superiority as teaching aids has never been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to compare 3D and traditional chalk teaching efficiency in terms of student memorization concerning peritoneal embryogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  165 students from the Faculties of Medicine of Sfax (Tunisia) (n = 81) and of Paris-Descartes (France) (n = 84) were taught peritoneal embryogenesis either via a 3D technique (interactive DVD ROM) (3D group, n = 85) or via the traditional chalk technique (CL group, n = 80). Both groups were subjected to an evaluation test including 34 questions distributed in six chapters at the end of the course.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall rate of correct answers was higher in the 3D group (65.12 +/- 14.88 vs. 49.33 +/- 16.17%, p < 0.001). It was the same for five of the six chapters of questions excluding the chapter concerning the clinical implications (p = 0.06). There was no significant difference between 3D and CL groups regarding the 20 questions focusing on static phenomena (64.52 +/- 27.10 vs. 58.87 +/- 23.67%, p = 0.24), but the rate of correct answers was higher in the 3D group for the 14 questions focusing on dynamic phenomena (65.96 +/- 20.97 vs. 28.17 +/- 24.40%, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 3D technique is significantly more efficient than the traditional chalk technique for the teaching of peritoneal embryogenesis in terms of short-term memorization and particularly for the assimilation of dynamic phenomena. Medium-term and long-term studies are needed to demonstrate that this benefit has a long-lasting impact.
authors.affiliation: URDIA Anatomie, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Descartes, Université Paris V, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Bassem
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abid
authors.forename: Nejmeddine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hentati
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chevallier
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghorbel
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delmas
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Douard
mesh_terms: D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000196:embryology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014742:Videodisc Recording