Efficacy of an Online Blended Learning Curriculum to Improve Medical Student Urologic Education

Ezra J Margolin; Jane T Kurtzman; Rachel J Gordon; Christopher B Anderson; Gina M Badalato

doi:10.1007/s40670-021-01427-3

Efficacy of an Online Blended Learning Curriculum to Improve Medical Student Urologic Education

Med Sci Educ. 2021 Oct 14;31(6):2007-2015. doi: 10.1007/s40670-021-01427-3. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Authors

Ezra J Margolin¹, Jane T Kurtzman¹, Rachel J Gordon², Christopher B Anderson¹, Gina M Badalato¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Urology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY USA.
² Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY USA.

Abstract

Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, limitations on in-person medical school clerkships created a deficit in urologic learning opportunities. We sought to develop and evaluate a blended curriculum of interactive online modules with small-group discussion to enhance the educational experience for medical students in urology.

Materials and methods: We created a curriculum of four online case-based urology modules. Between July and October 2020, 14 fourth-year medical students completed the modules. Students answered questions on a discussion board and engaged in asynchronous dialogue with 16 physicians, in addition to a weekly live review session. Students and physicians completed anonymous surveys to assess satisfaction and perceived learning outcomes, with questions scored on a 5-point Likert scale.

Results: Thirteen students (93% response rate) and 12 physicians (75% response rate) completed the survey. Overall, 12/13 students and 11/12 physicians "strongly agree" or "somewhat agree" that the modules improved the rotation. Students and physicians perceived that the modules were effective for learning/teaching foundational knowledge (average ratings 4.8 and 4.5, respectively) and facilitating performance assessment (4.4 and 4.0). Students reported high learning scores across multiple Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies, and 12/13 students found the modules fun/engaging. The majority of students (12/13) and physicians (10/12) felt that the online modules should be incorporated into future urology electives.

Conclusions: A blended learning curriculum utilizing online modules is an effective tool for enhancing urologic education, improving perceived learning outcomes and facilitating performance assessment.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40670-021-01427-3.

Keywords: Blended learning; Curriculum development; Medical education; Online modules; Subinternship; Urology.