title: Teaching Splinting Techniques Using a Just-in-Time Training Instructional Video.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Splinting is a multistep procedure that is seldom performed by primary care physicians. Just-in-time training (JITT) is an emerging teaching modality and can be an invaluable asset for infrequently performed procedures or in locations where teaching resources and trained professionals are limited. Our objective was to determine the utility of JITT for teaching medical students the short-arm (SA) volar splinting technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective randomized controlled pilot study. An instructional video on SA volar splinting was produced. Students viewed the video or had access to standard medical textbooks (control group) immediately before applying an SA volar splint. The students were assessed for the quality of the splint via a standard 6-point skills checklist. The times required for presplinting preparation and for completion of the splint were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Just-in-time training group students scored higher on the splint checklist (mean [SD], 5.45 [1.06]; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.99-5.92 vs mean [SD], 1.58 [1.12]; 95% CI, 1.04-2.12; P < 0.0001), had higher pass rates (73%; 95% CI, 53%-93% vs 0%; P < 0.0001), and required less time (minutes) for presplinting preparation (mean [SD], 7.86 [2.45]; 95% CI, 6.78-8.94 vs mean [SD], 9.89 [0.46]; 95% CI, 9.67-10.12; P < 0.0001) compared with the control group. No difference was seen in the time required to complete a splint, successful or not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In comparison with reading standard textbooks, watching a brief JITT instructional video before splinting yielded faster learning times combined with more successful procedural skills. The use of a JITT instructional video may have potential applications, including globally, as an alternative resource for teaching and disseminating procedural skills, such as SA volar splinting.
authors.affiliation: From the *Division of Emergency Medicine, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego; †Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles; and ‡Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Yu-Tsun
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Deborah R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Vincent J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D013165:Splints; D013337:Students, Medical; D013997:Time Factors; D014743:Videotape Recording / Q000379:methods*