scholarly journals Comparison of the Impact of Wikipedia, UpToDate, and a Digital Textbook on Short-Term Knowledge Acquisition Among Medical Students: Randomized Controlled Trial of Three Web-Based Resources

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. e20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A Scaffidi ◽  
Rishad Khan ◽  
Christopher Wang ◽  
Daniela Keren ◽  
Cindy Tsui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Knowledge Acquisition ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Digital Textbook ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Comparison of the Impact of Wikipedia, UpToDate, and a Digital Textbook on Short-Term Knowledge Acquisition Among Medical Students: Randomized Controlled Trial of Three Web-Based Resources (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A Scaffidi ◽  
Rishad Khan ◽  
Christopher Wang ◽  
Daniela Keren ◽  
Cindy Tsui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Knowledge Acquisition ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Canadian Medical School ◽  
Digital Textbook ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Web-based resources are commonly used by medical students to supplement curricular material. Three commonly used resources are UpToDate (Wolters Kluwer Inc), digital textbooks, and Wikipedia; there are concerns, however, regarding Wikipedia’s reliability and accuracy. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Wikipedia use on medical students’ short-term knowledge acquisition compared with UpToDate and a digital textbook. METHODS This was a prospective, nonblinded, three-arm randomized trial. The study was conducted from April 2014 to December 2016. Preclerkship medical students were recruited from four Canadian medical schools. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants through word of mouth, social media, and email. Participants must have been enrolled in their first or second year of medical school at a Canadian medical school. After recruitment, participants were randomized to one of the three Web-based resources: Wikipedia, UpToDate, or a digital textbook. During testing, participants first completed a multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ) of 25 questions emulating a Canadian medical licensing examination. During the MCQ, participants took notes on topics to research. Then, participants researched topics and took written notes using their assigned resource. They completed the same MCQ again while referencing their notes. Participants also rated the importance and availability of five factors pertinent to Web-based resources. The primary outcome measure was knowledge acquisition as measured by posttest scores. The secondary outcome measures were participants’ perceptions of importance and availability of each resource factor. RESULTS A total of 116 medical students were recruited. Analysis of variance of the MCQ scores demonstrated a significant interaction between time and group effects (P<.001, ηg2=0.03), with the Wikipedia group scoring higher on the MCQ posttest compared with the textbook group (P<.001, d=0.86). Access to hyperlinks, search functions, and open-source editing were rated significantly higher by the Wikipedia group compared with the textbook group (P<.001). Additionally, the Wikipedia group rated open access editing significantly higher than the UpToDate group; expert editing and references were rated significantly higher by the UpToDate group compared with the Wikipedia group (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Medical students who used Wikipedia had superior short-term knowledge acquisition compared with those who used a digital textbook. Additionally, the Wikipedia group trended toward better posttest performance compared with the UpToDate group, though this difference was not significant. There were no significant differences between the UpToDate group and the digital textbook group. This study challenges the view that Wikipedia should be discouraged among medical students, instead suggesting a potential role in medical education.

Short-term effectiveness of a web-based tailored intervention for cancer survivors on quality of life, anxiety, depression, and fatigue: randomized controlled trial

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy A. Willems ◽  
Catherine A. W. Bolman ◽  
Ilse Mesters ◽  
Iris M. Kanera ◽  
Audrey A. J. M. Beaulen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Tailored Intervention ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Anxiety Depression

scholarly journals An Educational Network for Surgical Education Supported by Gamification Elements: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha Guérard-Poirier ◽  
Michèle Beniey ◽  
Léamarie Meloche-Dumas ◽  
Florence Lebel-Guay ◽  
Bojana Misheva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Peer Learning ◽  
Surgical Skills ◽  
Global Rating Scale ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Subcuticular Suture ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Correct Technique

BACKGROUND Traditionally, medical students have learned surgical skills by observing a resident physician or surgeon who is performing the technique. Due to inconsistent practice opportunities in the clinical setting, a disparity of skill levels among students has been observed. In addition, the poor availability of faculty professors is a limiting factor in teaching and adequately preparing medical students for their clerkship years. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, medical students do not have access to traditional suturing learning opportunities. Didactic courses are available on videoconferencing platforms; however, these courses do not include technical training. OBJECTIVE Our overarching goal is to evaluate the efficacy and usability of web-based peer-learning for advanced suturing techniques (ie, running subcuticular sutures). We will use the Gamified Educational Network (GEN), a newly developed web-based learning tool. We will assess students’ ability to identify and perform the correct technique. We will also assess the students’ satisfaction with regard to GEN. METHODS We will conduct a prospective randomized controlled trial with blinding of expert examiners. First-year medical students in the Faculty of Medicine of Université de Montréal will be randomized into four groups: (1) control, (2) self-learning, (3) peer-learning, and (4) peer-learning with expert feedback. Each arm will have 15 participants who will learn how to perform running subcuticular sutures through videos on GEN. For our primary outcome, the students’ ability to identify the correct technique will be evaluated before and after the intervention on GEN. The students will view eight videos and rate the surgical techniques using the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills Global Rating Scale and the Subcuticular Suture Checklist as evaluation criteria. For our secondary outcomes, students will anonymously record themselves performing a running subcuticular suture and will be evaluated using the same scales. Then, a survey will be sent to assess the students’ acceptance of the intervention. RESULTS The study will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and has been approved by our institutional review board (CERSES 20-068-D). No participants have been recruited yet. CONCLUSIONS Peer learning through GEN has the potential to overcome significant limitations related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of availability of faculty professors. Further, a decrease of the anxiety related to traditional suturing classes can be expected. We aim to create an innovative and sustainable method of teaching surgical skills to improve the efficiency and quality of surgical training in medical faculties. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for such tools is imperative. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04425499; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04425499 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT PRR1-10.2196/21273

scholarly journals The effectiveness of a web-based decision aid for patients with hip osteoarthritis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilisbeth Perestelo-Perez ◽  
Yolanda Alvarez-Perez ◽  
Amado Rivero-Santana ◽  
Vanesa Ramos-García ◽  
Andrea Duarte-Díaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Hip Osteoarthritis ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a health condition sensitive to patient’s preferences and values regarding the benefits and risks of the different treatment options. In this sense, patient decision aids (PtDA) can play an important role in helping patients to incorporate their values, needs and preferences into the decision-making process, thus improving Person-Centred Care. Previous research has focused almost exclusively on knee OA, and therefore the aim of this study is to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a PtDA for patients with hip OA.Methods: The general design consists of two phases: 1) design a web-based PtDA for patients with hip OA, following the recommended procedures: systematic review of safety/effectiveness of treatments, and an iterative process of development with the help of an Advisory Committee composed of health professionals and patients; 2) To evaluate the impact of the PtDA on hip OA patients’ decision-making process related with their treatment. For that aim, a multicenter randomized controlled trial will be carried out with 124 patients with hip OA in Tenerife (Spain) comparing intervention or usual care.Discussion: PtDAs have been recommended as a useful and effective resource for improving PCC in many health conditions. The intervention is intended to empower patients by fostering their active participation during the decision-making process about their treatment, and by ensuring they make informed decisions congruent with their values and preferences. This study will contribute to the scientific knowledge about effectiveness of PtDAs in hip OA, in order to improve the quality of health care offered to these patients.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gob (NCT04241978). Registered on 24 January 2020.

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