Evaluation of internet-based oncologic teaching for medical students
Article
Mehta, MP, Sinha, P, Kanwar, K et al. (1998). Evaluation of internet-based oncologic teaching for medical students
. JOURNAL OF CANCER EDUCATION, 13(4), 197-202.
Mehta, MP, Sinha, P, Kanwar, K et al. (1998). Evaluation of internet-based oncologic teaching for medical students
. JOURNAL OF CANCER EDUCATION, 13(4), 197-202.
Background. Electronic tools with substantial educational applications are now widely available. Methods. In a prospective, randomized study, the value of Web-based educational tools for teaching second-year medical students was evaluated. The 35-hour, image-intensive multi-faculty neoplasia course was selected for the experiment, with 103 students assigned to the control group (C) and 61 to the experimental group (E). Representative password-controlled multimedia course modules, accessible via the Internet, were developed. The E cohort was exposed to both classroom and Web-aided materials, whereas the C group had access to the Web modules only after the experiment was concluded (but before the final examination). Pre- and post- exposure questionnaires assessed computer knowledge, familiarity with the Internet, availability of computer access, and the value of Web-based education for both cohorts. Additionally, pre- and post-exposure tests were administered to both cohorts based on educational materials presented in the Web modules. Results. The overall participation rate was 64% (E = 69%; C = 60%). The post-test showed no major performance difference between the two groups. The questionnaires revealed that: less than 1% of the students had not accessed the Internet previously; less than 5% had not used the Internet for medical education before; 34% felt that computer resources on campus were inadequate; and over 75% found Web-based education to be an important additional educational resource. The major negative aspect was the slow pace of data transfer for modem-based home access. Only 1% of students felt that Web-based education could completely replace traditional teaching. Conclusion. The potential for incorporating Web-based education in the medical curriculum is considerable.
