Enhancing clinical epidemiology concepts of internal medicine residents: A Web-based approach.

摘要

The core concepts of clinical epidemiology including the ability to critically evaluate medical literature are essential for Internal Medicine residents to practice effectively. However, often it is noted that the residents are not sure about these basic epidemiologic concepts integral to the development of competency of critical appraisal. The objectives of this study were to: (a) develop a web based course for the review of basic epidemiological concepts required in the critical assessment of the medical literature; (b) assess the perceptions of residents about web based methodology for learning these concepts; and (c) assess, if possible, whether web based approach is effective in learning these concepts, at least in the short term.;To accomplish these objectives, teaching material consisting of short question and answer was developed by using abstracts of six relevant studies published in leading medical journals. A pre-test and post-test was developed to assess the progress of the residents and to know about their perceptions about the learning method. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).