Auditorium Presentation

Case-based clinical education: Do computer teach better? A media comparison study with the CASUS-system

Martin Maleck, Martin Adler
AG Instruct, Medizinische Klinik Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich

Abstract:

Introduction: The potential for improvement of clinical education by means of Computer-Based-Training (CBT) is under debate.

Objectives: An evaluation study on 4th year medical students was carried out in order to examine the most feasible way to stimulate and integrate computer-based learning by cases. Furthermore, the role of interactivity was evaluated by comparing different types of approaches.

Methods: 10 cases on authentic patients with essential findings in thorax and bone imaging were created by authors from radiology, surgery and internal medicine with the CASUS authoring-system. Two blocks of 5 cases were offered. The 225 students were randomised into four groups. Group A: cases computer-based, interactive; group B: computer-based, non-interactive; group C: paper-based, interactive; group D: control-group, no case studies. A weekly radiology lecture was open to all participants on a voluntary basis. Questionnaires, Multiple-Choice-Questions (MCQ) and free-questions (X-ray interpretation) evaluation tools were used at the start and the end of the semester.

Results: The data of 192 students were analysed (93%). The valuation of effectiveness of textbooks and the interest in this form of learning decreased in the two interactive groups (A and C). In contrast the interest in learning with computer based cases increased. Overall, the case studies were highly recommended (mean value 4.6 on a scale from 1 to 6). The MCQ-test showed a significant increase in groups A, B and C (MCQ:+11,2%;+15,1%;+13,9%) and a non-significant effect in group D (+0,6%). Group A performed best in the free-question test (+15,7%, p<0,0001), followed by B (+15,1, p<0,01) and C (+10,2, p<0,05). Group D showed no significant improvement (+8,5, p>0,8).

Conclusions: The study shows that interactive computer-based case studies improve problem solving abilities. In our setting, successful integration into the clinical curriculum by use of the CASUS ñ system was achieved.

Benefit in Attending Session:

Our presentation provides information on different technical approaches for case-based teaching. This randomised study shows how interactive CBT can successfully be integrated into the curriculum and how it supports problem solving strategies compared to paper-based or non-interactive cases. Everybody who is interested in evaluation of CBT in the clinical setting should attend this presentation for a vivid discussion.

 
Martin Maleck
AG Instruct, Medizinische Klinik Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
Ziemssenstr. 1
80336 Munich
Germany
 
0049+89+51602289
Fax Number:
0049+89+51602366
mmaleck@medinn.med.uni-muenchen.de
http://mki.medinn.med.uni-muenchen.de/instruct/english/instruct-home.html
 
Name Co-Author(s):
Martin Adler
Martin R. Fischer
AG Instruct, Medizinische Klinik Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
Ziemssenstr. 1
80336 Munich
Germany
 
0049+89+51602289
Fax Number(s):
0049+89+51602366
E-mail Address(es):
adlerm@lrz.uni-muenchen.de
fischer@medinn.med.uni-muenchen.de
http://mki.medinn.med.uni-muenchen.de/instruct/english/instruct-home.html