title: A comparison of tele-education versus conventional lectures in wound care knowledge and skill acquisition.
abstract: We conducted a randomized controlled study to compare conventional lectures with tele-education for delivering wound care education. Education was delivered by the two methods simultaneously to two classes. Forty-eight paramedics received a live didactic presentation and 41 paramedics received the same lecture via videoconferencing. The participants were evaluated by a multiple-choice examination and a practical test of their wound closure skills. There were no significant differences in any category of the practical skills test, and no difference in the results of the written examination: the mean total score was was 109.0 (95% CI 105.7-112.4) in the conventional lecture group and 110.3 (95% CI 106.2-114.3) in the video group (P = 0.63). In a survey at the end of the study the live lecture group rated the overall effectiveness of teaching significantly higher than the video-based group: the median scores for effectiveness of teaching were 6.0 (IQR 5.5-6.0) in the live lecture group and 4.0 (IQR 3.0-5.0) in the video group (P < 0.001). Videoconferencing was at least as effective as live didactic presentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Orlando Regional Medical Center, 86 W Underwood Street, Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32806, USA.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haney
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Dillen
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ralls
authors.forename: Ethan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Papa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D020375:Education, Distance; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D049269:Videoconferencing; D058106:Wound Closure Techniques / Q000193:education*