A Novel Blended Learning Module in Family Medicine: An Interventional Study at the Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

Abstract

Blended learning (BL) has been reported as an effective method for teaching family medicine to undergraduates in high-income countries; however, studies of its effectiveness are limited in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an innovative BL module in family medicine including knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSA), and e-learning experiences. The grades of the fourth-year medical students at the Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University were correlated with the above items. A pre–post interventional study was conducted on a convenience sample of 117 fourth-year students in the educational year 2017–2018. Their KSA were assessed using valid and reliable questionnaires before and after the intervention was implemented. The intervention combined the traditional training in primary healthcare settings with the newly designed asynchronous e-learning module on the Moodle platform. The prepared website consisted of e-sections and an e-forum which was validated by expert staff. A questionnaire about students’ e-learning experiences was used to assess students’ satisfaction. The students’ final fourth-year marks for the family medicine module were correlated with their KSA and e-learning satisfaction. The overall means of students’ KSA were statistically significantly improved post-implementation. The posttest students’ skills were positively correlated with their marks in family medicine (rs = 0.308, p = 0.001). Students valued the e-resources and their relevance to the face-to-face activities. They were satisfied with their e-learning experiences (54.7%). Their e-learning satisfaction was positively correlated with the improvement in their knowledge (rs = 0.20, p = 0.031). BL had positive effects on students’ KSA and their satisfaction with the family medicine module. Combined asynchronous and synchronous e-learning in the COVID-19 era was applied in this study.