title: Preparation by mandatory E-modules improves learning of practical skills: a quasi-experimental comparison of skill examination results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Until recently, students at UMC Utrecht Faculty of Medicine prepared for practical skills training sessions by studying recommended literature and making written assignments, which was considered unsatisfactory. Therefore, mandatory e-modules were gradually introduced as substitute for the text based preparation. This study aimed to investigate whether this innovation improved students' performance on the practical skills (OSCE) examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  In both the 2012 and 2013 OSCEs, e-modules were available for some skill stations whereas others still had text based preparation. We compared students' performance, both within and between cohorts, for skill stations which had e-module preparation versus skill stations with text based preparation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that performance on skill stations for which students had prepared by e-modules was significantly higher than on stations with text based preparation, both within and between cohorts. This improvement cannot be explained by overall differences between the two cohorts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that results of skills training can be improved, by the introduction of e-modules without increasing teacher time. Further research is needed to answer the question whether the improved performance is due to the content of the e-modules of to their obligatory character.
authors.affiliation: Department Clinical Skills Training, University Medical Center Utrecht, HB Building 3.06, P.O. Box 85500, , 3508, Utrecht, GA, The Netherlands. k.j.kwant-2@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Kelly J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kwant
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Development of Education, University Medical Center Utrecht, HB Building 4.05, P.O. Box 85500, , 3508, Utrecht, GA, The Netherlands. e.j.f.m.custers@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Eugene J F M
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Custers
authors.affiliation: Department Clinical Skills Training, University Medical Center Utrecht, HB Building 3.06, P.O. Box 85500, , 3508, Utrecht, GA, The Netherlands. f.jongenhermus@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Femke J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Jongen-Hermus
authors.affiliation: Department Clinical Skills Training, University Medical Center Utrecht, HB Building 3.06, P.O. Box 85500, , 3508, Utrecht, GA, The Netherlands. m.kluijtmans@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Manon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kluijtmans
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D010808:Physical Examination