The eDerm online curriculum: A randomized study of effective skin cancer teaching to medical students - 12/11/11
Abstract |
Background |
With the incidence of skin cancers continuing to increase, traditional clerkships may not be sufficient to teach medical students important detection and management skills.
Objective |
We performed a randomized study to determine the efficacy of the online curriculum, eDerm.
Method |
Students were randomized to complete eDerm before or after clerkship (arm 1 vs 2) and were tested at 3 time points, including at baseline. The crossover design examined eDerm and clerkship, and the sequential effect of both.
Results |
In all, 252 participants completed all interventions and testing. Diagnosis and management scores significantly improved in both arms (P < .001; P < .001), reflecting increased scores after taking both eDerm and clerkship. eDerm after clerkship resulted in the highest improvement in diagnosis (P = .005), and eDerm improved the detection of melanoma significantly better than clerkship (malignant, P < .001; pigmented, P < .001).
Limitations |
We did not perform delayed testing of medical students for learning retention.
Conclusion |
eDerm significantly improves the diagnosis and management of nonpigmented and pigmented skin lesions by medical students. It can be used as an alternative to a traditional 2-week clerkship if one is not available. Importantly, melanoma detection improved significantly more after eDerm than clerkship. When used as a supplement, eDerm administered after a clerkship will result in the highest level of overall learning.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : clerkship, dermatologic teaching, diagnostic skills, eDerm, medical students, melanoma, nonmelanoma skin cancer, observational skills
Plan
Supported by a Sulzberger Educational Grant from the American Academy of Dermatology. |
|
Conflicts of interest: None declared. |
Vol 65 - N° 6
P. e165-e171 - décembre 2011 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
L’accès au texte intégral de cet article nécessite un abonnement.
Déjà abonné à cette revue ?