Abstract
Purpose Recent changes in the medical school curriculum and in teaching styles have stimulated the development of novel learning resources. We investigated the impact of computer-aided learning in the field of ophthalmology at a large Australian undergraduate medical school.
Methods Clinical case studies describing common ophthalmic conditions were incorporated into a computing program which uses a problem-solving format. The program was made available to 85 medical students for a 2 week period. A control group of 20 medical students did not have access to this material. Acquisition of new knowledge was assessed as the improvement in score on a knowledge-based multiple-choice examination which students took both before and following the learning interval.
Results Students in the control group showed no improvement over the test period, whilst the students who had access to the computer significantly increased their knowledge base, both for material provided on the program (p = 0.0001) and in related areas (p = 0.0015).
Conclusions Suitably constructed material on the computer is a useful aid in teaching ophthalmology to medical undergraduates. The material and the medium may also act as a stimulus for further learning.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Miflin BM, Campbell CB, Price DA . A lesson from the introduction of a problem-based, graduate entry course: the effects of different views of self-direction. Med Educ 1999;33:801–7.
Schwartz PL, Loten EG, Miller AP . Curriculum reform at the University of Otago Medical School. Acad Med 1999;74:675–9.
Peters AS, Greenberger-Rosovsky R, Crowder C, Block CD, Moore GT . Long-term outcomes of the new pathway program at Harvard Medical School: a randomized controlled trial. Acad Med 2000;75:470–9.
O'Neill PA, Morris J, Baxter C-M . Evaluation of an integrated curriculum using problem-based learning in a clinical environment: the Manchester experience. Med Educ 2000;34:222–30.
Spencer JA, Jordan RK . Learner centred approaches in medical education. BMJ 1999;318:1280–3.
Shuttleworth GN, Marsh GW . How effective is undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in ophthalmology? Eye 1997;11:744–50.
Jacobs DS . Teaching doctors about the eye: trends in the education of medical students and primary care residents. Surv Ophthalmol 1998;42:383–9.
Farrell TA, Albanese MA, Pomrehn PR Jr. Problem-based learning in ophthalmology: a pilot program for curricular renewal. Arch Ophthalmol 1999;117:1223–6.
Whitcomb ME, Anderson MB . Transformation of medical students' education: work in progress and continuing challenges. Acad Med 1999;74:1076–9.
Devitt P, Cehic D, Palmer E . Computers in medical education. 2. Use of a computer package to supplement the clinical experience in a surgical clerkship: an objective evaluation. Aust N Z J Surg 1998;68:428–31.
Devitt P, Palmer E . Computers in medical education. 1. Evaluation of a problem-oriented learning package. Aust N Z J Surg 1998;68:284–7.
Campbell JK, Johnson C . Trend spotting: fashions in medical education. BMJ 1999;318:1272–5.
Khadra MH, Guinea AI . Interactive urology: an evaluation. Aust N Z J Surg 1996;66:478–80.
Andrews PV, Schwarz J, Helme RD . Students can learn medicine with computers. Med J Aust 1992;157:693–5.
Kaufman D, Lee S . Formative evaluation of a multimedia CAL program in an ophthalmology clerkship. Med Teacher 1993;15:327–40.
Sinclair MJ, Peifer JW, Haleblian R, Luxenberg MN, Green K, Hull DS . Computer-simulated eye surgery: a novel teaching method for residents and practitioners. Ophthalmology 1995;102:517–21.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Devitt, P., Smith, J. & Palmer, E. Improved student learning in ophthalmology with computer-aided instruction. Eye 15, 635–639 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2001.199
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2001.199
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
eLearning among Canadian anesthesia residents: a survey of podcast use and content needs
BMC Medical Education (2013)
-
The impact of the Virtual Ophthalmology Clinic on medical students’ learning: a randomised controlled trial
Eye (2013)
-
Smartphones in der Augenheilkunde
Der Ophthalmologe (2012)
-
A method for creating interactive content for the iPod, and its potential use as a learning tool: Technical Advances
BMC Medical Education (2007)
-
Assessment of an electronic voting system within the tutorial setting: A randomised controlled trial [ISRCTN54535861]
BMC Medical Education (2005)