[Computer-based training in dermatooncology--a preliminary report comparing electronic learning programs with face-to-face teaching].

BACKGROUND

Electronic media are increasingly used in medical education. The question arises whether tutorial programs are as effective as innovative face-to-face didactic formats.

METHODS

26 students underwent a special dermatooncology course in an integrated undergraduate medical curriculum. One part of the content was acquired face-to-face with emphasis on team learning and mini-lectures; the other part was presented as web-based electronic computer-based training objects. The performance of the students in a subsequent multiple choice test was evaluated.

RESULTS

In total, questions referring to computer-based training contents were answered correctly in 90.4 +/- 12.5 %, which was significantly superior to the questions referring to team learning in the face-to-face teaching format (80.6 +/- 13.1 %; p < 0.001). There was, however, a significant correlation between both results for each individual student (r = 0.52; p < 0.01), but there was no correlation between the results obtained for computer-based training or team learning on the one hand, and the overall performance of the individual student on the other.

CONCLUSIONS

Though different contents were concerned, our study provides evidence that computer-based training may be more efficient than face-to-face teaching using team learning to communicate dermatooncology contents in an undergraduate medical curriculum.