Computer-aided learning for medical chart review instructions

The purpose of this study was to develop computer-aided learning (CAL) of medical chart review instructions for pharmacy students and to study the efficiency and effectiveness of the CAL. The participants were forty-eight 5th year pharmacy students at Faculty of Pharmacy, Ubon Ratchathani University, Thailand. They were divided into two groups by simple random sampling: an experimental group (n = 22) that studied with the CAL, and control group (n = 26) that studied with traditional lectures. The results showed no significant difference in the mean of pre-test score between the control and experimental groups (14.62 ± 1.83 versus 14.18 ± 2.13; p = 0.452).  There was also no significant difference in the mean of post-test scores, between the control and experimental groups (15.92 ± 1.76 versus 15.45 ± 1.57; p = 0.340). However, the post-test scores were higher than the pre-test scores with statistical significance (the control group 15.92 ± 1.76 versus 14.62 ± 1.83; p < 0.001; the experimental group 15.45 ± 1.57 versus 14.18 ± 2.13; p = 0.015). The overall user satisfaction of CAL was good (51.7%). The pharmacy students suggested that the CAL probably helps students to learn how to review medical charts and could be helpful as supplement to class lecture in order to gain more knowledge and skill from class room lectures, along with improved understanding and self-study.