031 E-learning in epilepsy

Abstract

BackgroundNeurology is widely considered one of the most challenging subjects in the undergraduate medical curriculum, so any improvement in training large numbers of medical students simultaneously in a standardised way would be welcomed. E-learning is currently a prominent area of research and is thought to hold potential for future education as it enables large groups of students to be taught at a time and place convenient to them.MethodsAn e-module on epilepsy was created to meet the specified learning outcomes for Neurology in one UK medical school, and evaluated subjectively by groups of medical students in years 3, 4 and 5. Knowledge test scores before and after using the module were also recorded.ResultsStudents perceived a significant improvement in their knowledge after using the module, and this was confirmed by a statistically significant improvement in knowledge test scores. The results of the study also supported findings in the literature of the main benefits of e-learning, and how this should be used.ConclusionThis study has shown that e-modules can be successfully used to increase both objective and subjective knowledge of epilepsy in students at one UK medical school. However there is still opportunity for further research to prove the usefulness of e-modules for long-term information retention, and teaching different subjects and training grades.