Objective: Educational methods for residents are shifting toward greater learner independence aided by technological advances. A Web-based program using a podcast was created for resident EEG instruction, replacing conventional didactics. The EEG curriculum also consisted of EEG interpretations under the tutelage of a neurophysiologist. This pilot study aimed to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of the podcast as a new teaching tool.
Methods:A podcast for resident EEG instruction was implemented on the Web, replacing the traditional lecture. After Institutional Review Board approval, consent was obtained from the participating residents. Using 25-question evaluation tools, participants were assessed at baseline before any EEG instruction, and reassessed after podcasting and after 10 clinical EEG exposures. Each 25-item evaluation tool contained tracings used for clinical EEG interpretations. Scores after podcast training were also compared to scores after traditional didactic training from a previous study among anesthesiology trainees.
Results:Ten anesthesiology residents completed the study. The mean scores with standard deviations are 9.50 Ϯ 2.92 at baseline, 13.40 Ϯ 3.31 (p ϭ 0.034) after the podcast, and 16.20 Ϯ 1.87 (p ϭ 0.019) after interpreting 10 EEGs. No differences were noted between the mean educational tool scores for those who underwent podcasting training compared to those who had undergone traditional didactic training.
Conclusion:In this pilot study, podcast training was as effective as the prior conventional lecture in meeting the curricular goals of increasing EEG knowledge after 10 EEG interpretations as measured by assessment tools. Neurology ® 2011;77:e42-e44 GLOSSARY CME ϭ continuing medical education; GME ϭ graduate medical education; IT ϭ Information Technology; UKy ϭ University of Kentucky.Podcasting technology is attractive in graduate medical education (GME) because of its educational potential, low implementation cost, and positive user experiences.1,2 The current technology-savvy millennial generation of residents are a driving force for its growth.3 Podcasting enables faculty to easily provide supplemental didactics in a video podcast format. In this pilot study, podcasting was incorporated into an established EEG curriculum developed by a neurophysiologist and a neurointensivist at the University of Kentucky (UKy). 4,5 The module was taught to anesthesiology residents, pulmonary critical care fellows, neurosurgery residents, and medical students during their neurocritical care rotation. This particular study was addressed to the anesthesiology residents. Conventional didactics were converted to a podcast including slides with lecturer audio, event videos during recordings, and EEG tracings. Topics included monitoring, physiologic basis, and clinical applications. The resident interpreted 10 EEGs with a neurophysiologist (1:1 or 1:2 faculty-to-resident ratio) and participated in video, continuous, and intraoperative EEG monitoring throughout the institution.This study ...