Ann Thorac Surg 2006;81:1766
© 2006 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Original article: Cardiovascular
Invited commentary
Jeffrey Gold, MD
Raymon H. Mulford Library, Medical University of Ohio, 3045 Arlington Ave, Toledo, OH 43614-5805
(Email: jgold{at}meduohio.edu).
These authors [1] report the results of a prospective trial randomizing learners into two groups based on the content and delivery method of clinically relevant information regarding aortic valve surgery. By studying didactic and skills-based learning outcomes, they demonstrate superiority of the electronic media delivery of the study materials [1].
This study is of importance to thoracic surgeons for several reasons. It clearly recognizes the differences in adult learning styles and defines a methodology to deliver "just in time learning" that seems to be superior to classroom or textbook based traditional delivery methods. The use of just-in-time learning is widely accepted in many educational domains and will clearly have an increasing role in surgical education.
In addition, the authors thoughtfully constructed a prospective, randomized trial, not of pharmaceuticals or of devices, but in comparing educational strategies. This was done in a scientific manner with well-defined outcomes and meticulous study methodology. The use of this type of approach to study the application of novel educational techniques is critical to our understanding of adult learning needs in surgical students and surgical providers alike.
These findings are also highly relevant to the thoracic surgery resident education programs and are consistent with the multiple studies previously undertaken and reported by the Thoracic Surgery Director's Association in this journal and elsewhere [2–4]. Furthermore, this study continues to establish the leadership of thoracic surgery education in defining the roles for web-based educational curricula material. The interface between traditional methods of education and the use of expensive and alluring high technology methods is not well defined, particularly in post-graduate surgical education. Our ability to continue to deliver high-quality and technically sound educational programs to our residents and lifelong learners lies at the very core of the future of our specialty.
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References
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- Friedl R, Höppler H, Ecard K, et al. Multimedia-driven teaching significantly improves students' performance during heart operations when compared with a print mediuma prospective, randomized trial. Ann Thorac Surg 2006;81:1760-1766.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Gold JP, Begg WB, Fullerton DA, Mathisen DJ, Orringer MB, Verrier ED. Evaluation of web-based learning toolslessons learned from the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association curriculum project three-year experience. Ann Thorac Surg 2005;80:802-810.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Gold JP, Begg WB, Fullerton D, et al. Successful implementation of a novel internet hybrid surgery curriculumthe early phase outcome of thoracic surgery prerequisite curriculum e-learning project. Ann Surg 2004;40(3):499-510.
- Gold JP, Verrier EA, Olinger GN, Orringer MB. Development of a CD-ROM internet hybrida new thoracic surgery curriculum. Ann Thorac Surg 2002;74:1741-1746.[Free Full Text]
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