Integrating public health-oriented e-learning into graduate medical education

Abstract

Purpose: In fall 2008, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene collaborated with Albert Einstein College of Medicine residency program directors to assess the effectiveness of an e-learning course on accurate death certificate completion among resident physicians.

Methods: We invited postgraduate year 1 and 2 (PGY1 and PGY2) residents (n = 227) to participate and administered a pretest, e-learning module, posttest, and course evaluation to PGY1 residents; PGY2 residents completed a pretest and survey only.

Results: In all, 142 residents (63%) participated. The average pretest scores for PGY2 residents (61%) and PGY1 residents (59%) were not significantly different. The PGY1 residents' average test score increased after taking the e-learning module (59% vs 72%, p<0.01). The participants rated course length, delivery method, and utility highly.

Conclusions: Results suggest that e-learning can effectively integrate public health-oriented training into clinical residency programs.