RR16. Interactive Online Training Improves Trainee Test Performance in Vascular Surgery

Abstract

Vascular surgery (VS) curricular resources for surgery residents consist mostly of textbook and didactic teachings. We sought to examine the effect of an interactive web-based VS curriculum on trainee test performance. Medical students and interns rotating on a VS service were prospectively randomized to a web-based curriculum (EXP) or traditional teaching methods (CON). Trainees were assessed on PRE- and POST-tests covering introductory VS topics. The EXP group was assigned to study from a web-based vascular curriculum developed by our faculty, while the CON group was encouraged to read and prepare weekly for cases. 57 trainees were randomized and the groups did not differ at baseline (TABLE). EXP logged more hours and spent 32% more time outside the hospital studying. EXP improved more on their POST-test than CON (70 to 86% vs. 67 to 73%, P=0.003). Multivariate regression confirmed that access to the interactive modules was the only independent predictor of test performance improvement (odds ratio=5.8, P=0.016). After the rotation, VS career interest increased 14% for EXP, and decreased 16% for CON (P<0.001).Tabled 1EXPERIMENTAL (n=34)CONTROL (n=23)P-valueAGE27.127.1NSM%/F%56%/44%39%/61%NSSTUDENT%/INTERN%68%/32%57%/43%NSHours worked/week75.766.90.001Cases scrubbed/week6.55.2NSPRE-test score70%67%NSPOST-test score86%73%<0.001Average test score increase+11%+6%0.003% trainees with >5% improvement85%57%0.01 Open table in a new tab Trainees assigned to an online vascular educational program studied more, performed better on written exams, and were more interested in a vascular career after the rotation. Implementation of an interactive web-based curriculum provides an efficient teaching and recruitment tool for contemporary VS trainees.