Comparison of Web-versus classroom-based basic ultrasonographic and EFAST training in 2 European hospitals.
OBJECTIVE
Training physicians in new skills through classroom-based teaching has inherent cost and time constraints. We seek to evaluate whether Web-based didactics result in similar knowledge improvement and retention of basic ultrasonographic principles and the Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (EFAST) compared with the traditional method.


METHODS
Physicians from 2 German emergency departments were randomized into a classroom group with traditional lectures and a Web group who watched narrated lectures online. All participants completed a pre- and posttest and a second posttest 8 weeks later. Both groups underwent hands-on training after the first posttest. A control group completed the 2 initial tests without didactic intervention.


RESULTS
Fifty-five subjects participated in the study. Both the classroom and Web group showed significant improvement in pre- and posttest 1 scores (75.9% versus 93.9% and 77.8% versus 92.5%; P<.001 for both), with similar knowledge retention after 8 weeks (88.6% and 88.9%; P=.87). No statistically significant difference in mean test scores could be found between the 2 groups at each point: -1.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] -5.2% to 1.4%) for the pretest, 1.4% (95% CI -0.6% to 3.4%) for posttest 1, and -0.3% (95% CI -3.9% to 3.3%) for posttest 2. The control group showed no learning effect without intervention (83.3% versus 82.8%, ; P=.88).


CONCLUSIONS
Web-based learning provides the potential to teach physicians with greater flexibility than classroom instruction. Our data suggest that Web-based ultrasonography and EFAST didactics are comparable to traditional classroom lectures and result in similar knowledge retention.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. eplatz@partners.org
Elke
E
Platz
Katja
K
Goldflam
Maria
M
Mennicke
Emilio
E
Parisini
Michael
M
Christ
Christian
C
Hohenstein
D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education* / Q000295:instrumentation; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*