The effectiveness of an interactive multimedia computer program, the "Electronic Textbook in Human Physiology," in improving the knowledge of students studying cardiovascular physiology was determined from scores on tests given before and immediately after completion of a two-hour animation program on the Cardiac Cycle and Introduction to Electrocardiography and by comparison of performance on a final examination taken later with their unexposed (control) classmates. Unsigned comments on the use of the program were obtained from all participants and were universally laudatory. A marked and significant improvement in the immediate posttest compared with the pretest scores was found. More importantly, the students who had used the computer program achieved a significantly higher grade in the cardiovascular section of the final exam than their (control) classmates. Several possible explanations of the results are offered; the most likely one is that the use of the computer program facilitated learning. The implications of this, especially for curriculum planning, are discussed.
The medical library of the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego developed a community outreach project to provide computer training on how to access electronic health information using the NLM and related databases. The goal is to enable local senior residents to improve their health and health care by accessing authoritative information. The original project plan was described in "Senior Health Goes Electronic: Partnership on Access to Health Senior Health Information Services" JCHI 9(2) 2005. This paper is a companion update of that publication covering the project implementation, progress, and its recent expansion.The library consumer health outreach project evolved into a broad environment for teaching health information access to a diverse population at multiple local San Diego community settings. Insights about the library Naomi C. Broering, MLS, MA (nbroering@pacifcicollege.edu) is Dean of Libraries, Stacey L. Gomes, EdD (sgomes@pacificcollege.edu) is Academic Dean, and Gregory A. Chauncey, MBA, BSEE (gchaunce@san.rr.com) is Program Manager-Library Project, all at outreach efforts, attendee participation, and the senior health Web page are discussed. Conclusions include the evaluation approach and population diversity of over 3,500 participants (community patients and residents), and over 425 hands-on class attendees from varying ethnic backgrounds, minority groups, low income to middle class adults and seniors. Health professionals (nurses, allied health personnel, and physicians) have also been class attendees.
Georgetown University recently designed a prototype digital full‐text system to provide clinicians and researchers with electronically transmitted journal articles that include illustrations. The system enables health practitioners to quickly search a database and retrieve full‐text articles with the touch of a few keys. It includes new technical methods of storing, transmitting, and delivering documents electronically using a small test base in cancer and genetics. The project goals are to accelerate the library's ability to deliver full‐text documents in the clinical setting and to improve knowledge management and library services by using advanced technologies. The objectives are 1) to design and maintain a digital full‐text database of articles with illustrations; 2) to develop, test, and modify the storage/retrieval system and transmission technology; and 3) to provide users with access to the full‐text system and evaluate its usefulness and applicability.
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