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. 2014 Aug 16:5:257-62.
doi: 10.2147/AMEP.S62473. eCollection 2014.

Video- or text-based e-learning when teaching clinical procedures? A randomized controlled trial

Steen Vigh Buch  1 , Frederik Philip Treschow  2 , Jesper Brink Svendsen  3 , Bjarne Skjødt Worm  4
Affiliations

Video- or text-based e-learning when teaching clinical procedures? A randomized controlled trial

Steen Vigh Buch et al. Adv Med Educ Pract. .

Abstract

Background and aims: This study investigated the effectiveness of two different levels of e-learning when teaching clinical skills to medical students.

Materials and methods: Sixty medical students were included and randomized into two comparable groups. The groups were given either a video- or text/picture-based e-learning module and subsequently underwent both theoretical and practical examination. A follow-up test was performed 1 month later.

Results: The students in the video group performed better than the illustrated text-based group in the practical examination, both in the primary test (P<0.001) and in the follow-up test (P<0.01). Regarding theoretical knowledge, no differences were found between the groups on the primary test, though the video group performed better on the follow-up test (P=0.04).

Conclusion: Video-based e-learning is superior to illustrated text-based e-learning when teaching certain practical clinical skills.

Keywords: clinical skills; e-learning; medicine; video versus text.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart describing the sequence of this study. Abbreviations: MCQ, multiple-choice questionnaire; OSCE, observed structured clinical examination.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Example of pictures taken from the illustrated text material. Note: Reproduced with permission from Medviden.dk.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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