title: A new blended learning concept for medical students in otolaryngology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate students' overall assessment and effectiveness of the web-based blended learning conception "Unified Patient Project" (UPP) for medical students rotating on their otolaryngology internship (ear, nose, and throat [ENT] tertiary).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective comparison group design of the quasiexperimental type.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical education.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experimental group (preintervention test [pretest], intervention, and postintervention test [posttest]) comprised 117 students, and the comparison group (pretest, alternative intervention, and posttest), 119.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the experimental group, lecturing of case studies was replaced by the blended learning concept UPP. A standardized questionnaire evaluated students' overall assessment of teaching otolaryngology. A pretest and posttest using multiple choice questions was administered to clarify whether the UPP has led to a knowledge gain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The comparison group was more satisfied with their teaching; however, this was not statistically significant (P = .26) compared with the UPP. Students with higher preknowledge benefitted from the UPP, while students with lower preknowledge did not (P = .01). On average, posttest results in the experimental group exceeded those of the comparison group by 8.7 percentage points for a 75% preknowledge of the maximum attainable score, while they fell below those of the comparison group by 8.1 percentage points for a 25% preknowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Students' satisfaction with the blended learning concept UPP was lower than in the face-to-face teaching, although this was not statistically significant. The new web-based UPP leads to an improved knowledge in clinical otolaryngology for all students. Students with lower preknowledge benefitted more from face-to-face teaching than from the UPP, while students with higher preknowledge benefitted more from the UPP. This implies students with poor preknowledge need special promotion programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. matthaeus.grasl@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Matthaeus C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Grasl
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pokieser
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gleiss
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brandstaetter
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sigmund
authors.forename: Boban M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Erovic
authors.forename: Martin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001317:Austria; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires