Application of an education model using the WeChat public platform in the standardized training of anesthesiology residents.

BACKGROUND

Standardized training of clinical residents is an important way to train high-level clinicians and is an important step to ensure quality clinical work. WeChat facilitates efficient information dissemination and feedback, convenient communication. In the new media era, the influence of WeChat has inspired changes in educational methods, to explore the role of an education model using the WeChat public platform in the standardized training of anesthesiology residents.

METHODS

A total of 40 anesthesiology residents undergoing standardized training in our department from January 2016 to August 2017 were selected as subjects and randomly divided into 2 groups: traditional group (n=20) and WeChat group (n=20). In the WeChat group, in addition to the traditional clinical teaching model (lectures), the residents also received push information from the WeChat public platform for anesthesia education. The residents in the traditional group did not receive the push information and only received traditional clinical teaching. Three months later, assessment scores of and teaching quality in the 2 groups were evaluated. Teaching quality was evaluated using peer assessment and self-assessment questionnaires.

RESULTS

Residents in the WeChat group performed significantly better on assessments than those in traditional group regarding theoretical knowledge of anesthesiology, understanding mechanisms, operation ability, current knowledge, case analyses and use of professional English (P<0.05). The questionnaire results indicated that the degree of satisfaction of the residents and teachers in the WeChat group was significantly higher than that in the traditional group (P<0.05). The theoretical knowledge scores, operational skill scores and overall scores in the WeChat group were significantly higher than those in the traditional group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Applying an education model based on the WeChat public platform in standardized training of anesthesiology residents can significantly improve teaching efficacy and satisfaction, enhance comprehensive assessment results, and improve teaching quality.