title: Interactive seminars or small group tutorials in preclinical medical education: results of a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Learning in small group tutorials is appreciated by students and effective in the acquisition of clinical problem-solving skills but poses financial and resource challenges. Interactive seminars, which accommodate large groups, might be an alternative. This study examines the educational effectiveness of small group tutorials and interactive seminars and students' preferences for and satisfaction with these formats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students in year three of the Leiden undergraduate medical curriculum, who agreed to participate in a randomized controlled trial (RCT, n = 107), were randomly allocated to small group tutorials (n = 53) or interactive seminars (n = 54). Students who did not agree were free to choose either format (n = 105). Educational effectiveness was measured by comparing the participants' results on the end-of-block test. Data on students' reasons and satisfaction were collected by means of questionnaires. Data was analyzed using student unpaired t test or chi-square test where appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between the two educational formats in students' test grades. Retention of knowledge through active participation was the most frequently cited reason for preferring small group tutorials, while a dislike of compulsory course components was mentioned more frequently by students preferring interactive seminars. Small group tutorials led to greater satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that small group tutorials leads to greater satisfaction but not to better learning results. Interactive learning in large groups might be might be an effective alternative to small group tutorials in some cases and be offered as an option.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. z.de_jong@lumc.nl
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: Jessica Ab
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van Nies
authors.forename: Sonja Wm
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vink
authors.forename: Friedo W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scherpbier
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004493:Education; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D006127:Group Structure; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D009426:Netherlands; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000193:education; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000193:education; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires