Webpage for Third Year Medical Students Pediatric Clerkship: Is Improved Access Information Useful and Educational?

Abstract

Background: While many medical schools utilize webpages containing administrative information for students, this study evaluated a webpage that combines administrative and educational material in one convenient location.Objective: 1) Assess need to create centralized webpage for third year medical students on their pediatric clerkship; 2)Design webpage with administrative and educational information; 3) Review webpage's usefulness.Methods: Pre-test post-test survey with 5 point Likert and yes/no questions, created de novo on SurveyMonkey and emailed to medical students upon completion of their pediatric clerkship. Pre-intervention students used paper orientation packets. Pre-test survey addressed time to find resources and need for centralized location. Post-intervention students had access to new webpage with: 1) Fundamentals and Forms, 2) Orientation Information, 3) Key Resources, 4) Pediatric PowerPoint Presentations, 5) Journal Articles. Post-test questions regarded usefulness, relevance, accessibility, efficiency of webpage and perceived effect on knowledge-base.Results: 49/72 (68%) pre-intervention students responded to survey reporting accessing multiple internet sites for medical information, 95.9% used orientation handouts, 62.6% used resident webpage, 73.5% thought new webpage would be useful and 81.7% strongly agreed/agreed webpage would improve time efficiency. 32/72 (44%) post-intervention students responded to survey. 100% post-intervention students used new webpage, 65.6% strongly agreed/agreed information was easily accessible, 68.8% found information relevant, 64.6% agreed easy to navigate, and 53.1% strongly agreed/agreed (7.4% disagreed) readily available learning resources on website improved their pediatric knowledge. Conclusion:The introduction of a webpage with administrative and educational materials for the pediatric clerkship was useful to majority of third year medical students.