title: Effectiveness of skeleton handouts during ophthalmology theory lectures for undergraduate medical students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although lecture handouts are commonly given to students during theory lectures, students' perception, as well as their performance, can vary depending on the type of handouts they receive for information processing.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a quasi-experimental study involving 6(th) semester medical students. The study was conducted during theory lectures on ophthalmology. The two types of notes given to the students were comprehensive handout and a skeleton handout, which included some lecture notes but required substantial annotation by the students. Pre-test and post-test in the form of multiple choice questions were conducted before and after the lecture session, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference of mean score of pre- and post-test between skeletal handout (pre = 1.85 ± 1.275, post = 4.85 ± 0.363) and full handout (pre = 1.92 ± 1.09 post = 2.61 ± 0.771) with P < 0.001. However, the students' responses to questionnaires indicated a strong preference for much detailed handouts as essential to preparation for examinations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The student can improve their performance during examination while working on skeletal handouts during theory lectures in spite of showing a preference for complete handouts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Melaka 75150, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Venkatesan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Prabhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Melaka 75150, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Soumendra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Melaka 75150, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Htoo Htoo Kyaw
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Soe
keywords: Handout; interactive; lecture; medical student; skeleton