Validating audiovisual reviews as a strategy for teaching behavioral medicine to primary care residents.

A study examining the usefulness of audiovisual reviews (AVR's) as a method of teaching behavioral medicine was done with family medicine residents and faculty at the UNC School of Medicine. A set of educational goals for family medicine residency training was established. In a survey faculty and residents were asked to rate the importance of teaching each goal during residency and the appropriateness of AVR's for teaching it. Observers recorded the content of discussion in 18 regularly scheduled AVR's. In survey results both faculty and residents agreed that AVR's are best suited for teaching behavioral medicine skills. However, there were different goals, depending on level of training. Content analysis of the observed AVR's showed that the four most valued teaching goals comprised 50% of the topics discussed in actual AVR's. Results of this study validate the use of AVR's as a teaching strategy for behavioral medicine skills.