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Methods Inf Med 1993; 32(04): 309-313
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1634935
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH

Computer-Assisted Instruction in Probabilistic Reasoning During the Inpatient Medicine Clerkship

W. R. Smith
1   Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN, USA
2   Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN, USA
,
D. J. Lancaster
2   Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN, USA
,
D. K. McClish
3   Department of Biostatistics, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
› Author AffiliationsThis project was supported by a grant from the Chancellor’s Instructional Development Award Program, University of Tennessee, Memphis, College of Medicine. The contributors to this project were: Wally R. Smith, M. D., content expert and programmer; Jung Sun Hahn, Ph.D., instructional designer; Thomas Jernigan, M-3, programmer; John Silver, D. V. M., M. S., programmer.
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Publication History

Publication Date:
06 February 2018 (online)

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Abstract

The acceptability and utility of computer-assisted instruction in probabilistic reasoning was assessed for medicine clerkship students. After a pretest, the experimental (n = 40), but not the control students (n = 39), completed a program that we designed. The program contained the test and its answers. After program exposure, experimental students rated their knowledge of the program’s content significantly higher (p = 10−4) than control students. On the identical posttest, experimental students also scored significantly higher than control students (p = 10−4) and improved their scores significantly more (p = 10−3). They rated ease-of-use items significantly higher than content-relevance items (p = 1CT−4). We conclude that computer-assisted instruction in probabilistic reasoning is acceptable to clerkship students, and that it may improve their knowledge and skills in this area. However, students may rate the vehicle of this instruction more highly than its content.

Key-Words

Computer-Assisted Instruction - Probabilistic Reasoning - Medical Decision Making - Medical Education
 

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