Purpose: To evaluate student experiences with an audio podcast and video podcast (“vodcast”) designed to teach medical students about contraception.
Background: Supplemental digital learning has been shown to be equally effective as lecture-based or independent learning in regard to knowledge acquisition and retention. Audio and video podcasts are increasingly being used to supplement medical education.
Methods: We created an audio and video podcast for third year medical students covering APGO educational objectives on the topic of contraception. Alternating cohort of students starting their third-year OB/GYN clerkship received either the podcast or vodcast for a year. Pre-surveys were distributed to assess participants’ baseline experience with podcasts, demographics, and subjective contraception knowledge. Post-surveys again measured subjective knowledge, as well as satisfaction with and usefulness of the digital learning. The survey also included open-ended questions to assess students’ overall experience using these methods of learning.
Results: A total of 183 students participated (89 podcast, 94 vodcast). More students preferred videos for accessibility (82%) and self-pacing (90%) and podcasts for the ability to listen while doing other things (65%). Subjective knowledge increased significantly post-intervention and was not different between the groups. There was no difference between satisfaction, perceived usefulness, and pattern of recommendation to others between the audio and video intervention.
Discussions: The audio and video digital learning tools were perceived to be useful teaching tools and improved subjective contraceptive knowledge. With the increased need for distanced learning due to the current pandemic, these types of digital learning methods can be adjuncts to traditional teaching.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2021, Student, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Clerkship Coordinator, Medical Knowledge, UME, Lecture, Independent Study, Contraception or Family Planning,
K. Marie Douglass, MD,MPH, UCLA; Clarissa Niino, MD; Karen Bryan, MS; Lorna Herbert, MPH; Aparna Sridhar, MD, MPH
