Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and user satisfaction of podcasts versus a traditional lecture in resident education. BACKGROUND: Podcasting technology has been increasingly adopted to enhance health education. Advantages include low implementation costs, positive user experiences, and effectiveness at meeting educational goals. We previously conducted a needs assessment survey amongst family medicine residents (n=77) and showed that 84percnt of family medicine residents indicated that they were either “very interested” or “somewhat interested” in listening to neurology podcasts. DESIGN/METHODS: In the current study, we randomized 2nd year family medicine residents (n=49) to either attend a formal lecture (n=25) or to listen to two podcasts (n=24) on multiple sclerosis. We used pre- and post-test scores of an exam marked by a blinded adjudicator to assess efficacy, and a 5-point Likert scale to assess satisfaction. RESULTS: There was low baseline knowledge about multiple sclerosis in both groups (the lecture group pre-test mean score was 13.9±3.2*/80 and the podcast group pre-test mean score was 16.9±3.2/80; P=0.20). Both groups improved significantly following the intervention, but the podcast group appeared to improve more as measured by the mean post-test scores (the lecture group improved by 41.7±1.6 to 55.7±4.2/80 and the podcast group improved by 49.8±1.5 to 66.7±2.6/80; P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the user satisfaction between the lecture and the podcast on a 5-pt Likert scale (4.45±0.44 in the lecture group versus 4.19±0.35 in the podcast group; P=0.37). The greater improvement on post-test scores in the podcast group was unexpected and may have been due to slower pacing in the podcast. In the podcast group, 100percnt were either “very interested” or “somewhat interested” in listening to further neurology podcasts. CONCLUSION: Overall our study demonstrates that podcasts are an effective tool in medical education with similar efficacy and user satisfaction to traditional lectures. *95percnt CI
Brust et al. (Mon,) studied this question.