Interactive iPhone/iPad App for Increased Tympanic Membrane Familiarity.
BACKGROUND
Otology relies on clinical examination to teach anatomy of the ear. The purpose of this report is to introduce the Buckingham Virtual Tympanum iPhone app as an adjuvant educational tool to teach the anatomical details of the tympanic membrane (TM).


METHODS
This app, available free at the Apple Store, was constructed using archival photographs of normal and abnormal TMs, stratified by difficulty. Each image has 4 labeled structures, linked to questions to encourage active learning. Third-year medical students then used the app to familiarize themselves with the TM.


RESULTS
The free app was readily accessible and functioned without technical issues. By being interactive, it forced the user into the role of active learner. This pilot study found that students who used the app understood images of the TM better than those who did not use it.


CONCLUSIONS
We introduce an interactive, iPhone-based smartphone application that we found to be a useful adjunct for teaching TM anatomy.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA Samra2@uic.edu.
Sheena
S
Samra
Senior Software Engineer Systems Applications, Williams Interactive, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Andrew
A
Wu
Louis J. Mayer Professor of Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Miriam
M
Redleaf
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002983:Clinical Competence; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D063731:Mobile Applications; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education*; D038781:Otoscopy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000066908:Simulation Training; D000068997:Smartphone; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014584:User-Computer Interface
app; medical education; simulation; smartphone; technology