title: The impact of a perceptual and adaptive learning module on transoesophageal echocardiography interpretation by anaesthesiology residents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) in anaesthetic practice is expanding. We evaluated the effect of a TOE perceptual and adaptive learning module (PALM) on first-yr anaesthesiology residents' performance, in diagnosing cardiac pathology by TOE.
  
  
  METHODS
  First-yr residents were assigned to a group (n = 12) that used a TOE PALM or a control group that did not (n = 12). Both groups received a TOE pretest that measured their accuracy and response times. The PALM group completed the PALM and a posttest within 30 min and a delayed test six months later. The control group received a delayed test six months after their pretest. Accuracy and fluency (accurate responses within 10 s) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PALM group had statistically significant improvements for both accuracy and fluency (P < 0.0001) in diagnosing cardiac pathology by TOE. After six months, the PALM group's performance remained significantly higher than their pretest values for accuracy (P = 0.0002, d = 2.7) and fluency (P < 0.0001, d = 2.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this pilot study, exposure to a PALM significantly improved accuracy and fluency in diagnosing TOE cardiac pathology, in a group of first-year anaesthesiology residents. PALMs can significantly improve learning and pattern recognition in medical education.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9068, USA bryan.romito@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Romito
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krasne
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, USA.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kellman
authors.affiliation: UCLA Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, 757 Westwood Plaza, Suite 3325, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7403, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dhillon
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004501:Education, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007858:Learning; D010865:Pilot Projects
keywords: echocardiography; education; medical; pattern recognition; transoesophageal; visual