title: Using a virtual training program to train community neurologist on EEG reading skills.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  EEG training requires iterative exposure of different patterns with continuous feedback from the instructor. This training is traditionally acquired through a traditional fellowship program, but only 28% of neurologists in training plan to do a fellowship in EEG.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the value of online EEG training to improve EEG knowledge among general neurologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were general neurologists invited through bulk e-mail and paid a fee to enroll in the virtual EEG program. A 40-question pretest exam was performed before training. The training included 4 online learning units about basic EEG principles and 40 online clinical EEG tutorials. In addition there were weekly live teleconferences for Q&A sessions. At the end of the program, the participants were asked to complete a posttest exam.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen of 20 participants successfully completed the program and took both the pre- and posttest exams. All the subjects scored significantly higher in the posttest compared to their baseline score. The average score in the pretest evaluation was 61.7% and the posttest average was 87.8% (p = .0002, two-tailed).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Virtual EEG training can improve EEG knowledge among community neurologists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 366693, USA. jochoa@usouthal.edu
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ochoa
authors.forename: Dean K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Naritoku
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017145:Models, Educational; D009462:Neurology / Q000193:education*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012984:Software; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014481:United States; D014584:User-Computer Interface