An educational electronic package on retention of CPR knowledge in residents of Anesthesiology

Context: Nowadays, it is argued that educators can no longer rely on traditional teaching methods and more effective learner–centered education techniques are required. This study sought to assess retention of knowledge after ACLS workshop, comparing those who had used an educational electronic package as an adjunct to the lecture method, and with those who had not.

Methods: There were 48 residents of anesthesiology were assigned to intervention and control group at the beginning of their residency in 2009and 2010. In the intervention group, all subjects were asked to review the content of an educational electronic package for 3 weeks before the ACLS workshop. The ACLS workshop was held as the previous conventional method. The acquisition of ACLS knowledge was assessed by a questionnaire before and immediately after the workshop and the retention of knowledge by the same questionnaire 6, and 12-months later. The differences between mean scores were determined with independent t-test.

Results: The mean score in the intervention group was 14.21±1.97 vs. 10.25±2.55 in the control group after 6 months (P <0.001). The results showed a difference between the 2 groups. It was only significant with respect to test score of 6-months after the workshop. A year later both groups almost reached the same point.

Conclusion: This study showed the educational electronic package as an adjunct to the lecture method can be used as an aid to recall and a reinforcement technique to significantly enhance residents’ retention of the ACLS course for a short period of time. However, more researches are needed.