A Practice-oriented Digital Logbook for Students in the Practical Year: Experiences from a Pilot Project

Background: With the impending reform of the medical licensing regulations scheduled for 2028, there is a growing demand for digital learning resources, which are currently a prominent trend. In a pilot project, we undertook the digitization and assessment of a logbook designed for students during their practical year (PJ). The primary objective of this study is to assess both digital and nondigital PJ logbooks.

Methods: We developed a digital PJ logbook, originally based on a printed version, as a web application. We utilized a commercial enterprise knowledge management system for implementation, allowing for responsive design, integration with the university's user directory, and adherence to corporate design standards. Student satisfaction with the digital logbook, involving a total of 34 participants, was evaluated through questionnaires employing a Likert scale. Furthermore, students assessed their own practical skills at the start and at the end of their PJ rotation assigning grade points. This assessment was compared between students receiving access to the digital logbook (N = 34) and students undergoing their PJ rotation before the introduction of the digital logbook (N = 49).

Results: The majority of students found the digital logbook to be user-friendly and a valuable addition. In the stationary setting, the introduction of the digital logbook resulted in a significant improvement of self-assessed skills, with an increase of 0.73 grade points at the beginning (p < 0.001) and 0.78 grade points at the end of the rotation (p < 0.001). In the operating room setting, a significant improvement of 0.47 grade points was observed at the beginning of the rotation (p = 0.027). The overall grade for the completed PJ rotation exhibited a slight but statistically insignificant improvement (p = 0.145).

Conclusion: The evaluation demonstrates that students highly appreciate the digital PJ logbook, and it significantly enhances their self-assessed skills. We are planning future modifications to enhance the logbook's appeal.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
13. Februar 2024