Eficácia da utilização de uma plataforma de educação a distância associada a um livro eletrônico (e-book) no ensino da dermatologia voltado a estudantes de graduação em medicina

Abstract

Novel Internet-based applications and associated technologies have influenced all aspects of our society, ranging from areas of commerce and business to entertainment and healthcare. Education is not an exception to this rule. It can also benefit from recent technological advances, especially in areas such as dermatology, where imaging analysis is key. In this context, we have developed and analyzed the efficacy of a dermatology e-learning program and a e-book in the teaching of undergraduate medical students. We assessed the impact of these new teaching tools on the performance of fourth semester medical students of the Federal University of Bahia-Brazil. A total of 129 students were selected and divided into two groups; the first group (57 students) utilized traditional classroom paper-based tools and activities; whereas the second group (of 72 students) utilized our e-learning course and e-book, in a hybrid online plus traditional fashion. The students in both groups were submitted to pre-and post-course evaluations, and their performance was compared. Despite the previous evaluation of the course, not showing any difference between the groups (2.74 ± 1.25 and 3.2 ± 1.22, classroom and hybrid courses, respectively), students attending the hybrid course had better final term grades (8, 18 ± 1.26) than students who attended traditional classes (7.11 ± 1.04). This difference was statistically significant (p <0.05). The results indicate that the performance of undergraduate students attending the course augmented with e-learning plus e-book tools was superior to the traditional course. This dissertation discusses the benefits of the use of e-learning education tools in enhancing teaching of dermatology to graduate medical students.