title: Teaching on three-dimensional presentation does not improve the understanding of according CT images: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Randomized studies have already described the advantages of three dimensional (3D) presentations in understanding complex spatial interactions. However, the clinical setting is mainly characterized by presentations of two dimensional (2D) images.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates whether training on 3D presentation enhances the understanding of 2D images.
  
  
  METHODS
  A teaching module was used consisting of one learning part and two examination parts (EP). Students were randomized to training with either 2D or 3D.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study of 73 students showed that training on 3D presentations did not improve the ability to interpret 2D images. Further, the results revealed no significant differences between the results of Week 1 (2D: M = 6.5, SD = 1.8; 3D: M = 6.6, SD = 1.4; p > .95) and Week 2 (2D: M = 6.1, SD = 1.9; 3D: M = 6.0, SD = 1.4; p > .7). There were no significant gender differences. However, students randomized to 2D who completed only the first EP performed significantly worse if compared to students who completed both EP ( p = .04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This randomized controlled study shows that correct interpretation of 2D imaging does not differ in students trained with either 3D or 2D.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Metzler
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tetzlaff
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bruckner
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Meinzer
authors.forename: Markus W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Büchler
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kadmon
authors.forename: Beat P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Müller-Stich
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000715:Anatomy / Q000193:education; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed