Nirmal Bhaskar1, Sarath Kumar Narayanan2, Somnath Prathap3
BACKGROUND
At present, concepts of basic paediatric surgical disorders by undergraduate
medical students is limited, which is likely due to deficiencies of traditional teaching
methods. This therefore results in delay in identifying situations that mandate
initial management and timely referrals. The primary objective of this study is to
determine the efficacy of animation videos in conjunction with conventional
lectures while teaching paediatric surgical disorders.
METHODS
This is an interventional study involving 60 final year MBBS students at a tertiary
care institution. They were divided into two comparable groups of 30 each. One
group (Group A) was educated using animation videos and conventional lectures
that included three crucial topics in paediatric surgery - malrotation,
intussusception and cleft lip/palate. The other group (Group B) was taught the
same topic by means of conventional techniques alone (power point, pictures and
usage of black board). The same teacher took these sessions (six exposures, 3
each in two groups) for both the groups, on consecutive days. After conclusion of
the session, two sets of assessments (multiple choice questions) were provided to
students, one soon after class and another two weeks later. Appropriate statistical
methods were employed to compare scores obtained by them and their feedback
through a questionnaire.
RESULTS
On immediate evaluation, Group A (N = 30) achieved a mean score of 21.8 ± 1.1
in comparison to 17.8 ± 1.3 achieved by Group B. On statistical analysis with
independent t test, the positive difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0001).
At 2 weeks’ evaluation, Group A achieved a mean score of 20.5 ± 1.3, and Group
B 17.9 ± 1.5. This difference was also found to be significant (P = 0.006). On
assessing feedback questionnaire responses, majority of students found the video
assisted teaching method with animation video practical and valuable.
CONCLUSIONS
The teaching method using animation videos in conjunction with conventional
lecture is more effective in paediatric surgery than teaching with conventional
lectures alone. The students have also shown a favourable perception towards this
method of teaching.
