title: An Innovative Blended Preclinical Curriculum in Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics: Impact on Student Satisfaction and Performance.
abstract: There is little understanding of the impact of teaching clinical epidemiology and biostatistics in a flipped or blended format. At Stanford University School of Medicine, the quantitative medicine (QM) curriculum for first-year students was redesigned to use a blended format, in response to student feedback.
  
  
  
  The blended QM curriculum introduced in 2013 integrated self-paced, online learning with small-group collaborative learning. The authors analyzed the blended format's impact on student satisfaction and performance, comparing the pilot cohort of students (n = 101) with students who took the traditional curriculum in 2011 and 2012 (n = 178). They also analyzed QM resource utilization in 2013.
  
  
  
  The blended curriculum had a positive impact on satisfaction and mastery of core material. Comparing the 2013 blended cohort with the 2011-2012 traditional cohort, there were significant improvements in student satisfaction ratings (overall, P < .0001; organization, P < .0001; logical sequence, P = .008; value of content, P < .0001). The mean (SD) overall satisfaction rating for small-group sessions increased: 3.40 (1.03) in 2013 versus 2.79 (1.00) in 2011 and 2.83 (1.06) in 2012. Performance on the QM final exam showed no significant changes in 2013 versus 2011 and 2012. The majority of students in 2013 reported using the QM online videos as their primary learning resource (69%-85% across modules).
  
  
  
  The positive impact of the curricular elements studied will inform continued development of the QM curriculum. Features of the curriculum could serve as a model for future blended courses.
authors.affiliation: K.H. Evans is director of education and quality improvement, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California. A.C. Thompson is a first-year resident, Duke Ophthalmology Residency Training Program, Durham, North Carolina. C. O'Brien is a fourth-year medical student, Stanford University, Stanford, California. M. Bryant is administrative director, Office of Medical Education, Stanford University, Stanford, California. P. Basaviah is clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California. C. Prober is professor, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, California. R.A. Popat is clinical associate professor, Department of Health Research and Policy, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
authors.forename: Kambria H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Atalie C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Madika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: Preetha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Basaviah
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prober
authors.forename: Rita A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Popat
mesh_terms: D056808:Biostatistics; D002140:California; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004813:Epidemiology / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013223:Statistics as Topic / Q000193:education*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology