A Comparison of Online versus On-site Training in Health Research Methodology: A Randomized Study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Distance learning may be useful for building health research capacity. However, evidence that it can improve knowledge and skills in health research, particularly in resource-poor settings, is limited. We compared the impact and acce...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2011-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6920/11/37 |
| _version_ | 1819037032338423808 |
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| author | Kanchanaraksa Sukon Sisson Stephen D Aggarwal Amita Bhan Anant Ali Joseph Taylor Holly Kass Nancy Gupte Nikhil Aggarwal Rakesh McKenzie-White Jane McGready John Miotti Paolo Bollinger Robert C |
| author_facet | Kanchanaraksa Sukon Sisson Stephen D Aggarwal Amita Bhan Anant Ali Joseph Taylor Holly Kass Nancy Gupte Nikhil Aggarwal Rakesh McKenzie-White Jane McGready John Miotti Paolo Bollinger Robert C |
| author_sort | Kanchanaraksa Sukon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Distance learning may be useful for building health research capacity. However, evidence that it can improve knowledge and skills in health research, particularly in resource-poor settings, is limited. We compared the impact and acceptability of teaching two distinct content areas, Biostatistics and Research Ethics, through either on-line distance learning format or traditional on-site training, in a randomized study in India. Our objective was to determine whether on-line courses in Biostatistics and Research Ethics could achieve similar improvements in knowledge, as traditional on-site, classroom-based courses.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p><it>Subjects: </it>Volunteer Indian scientists were randomly assigned to one of two arms.</p> <p><it>Intervention: </it>Students in Arm 1 attended a 3.5-day on-site course in Biostatistics and completed a 3.5-week on-line course in Research Ethics. Students in Arm 2 attended a 3.5-week on-line course in Biostatistics and 3.5-day on-site course in Research Ethics. For the two course formats, learning objectives, course contents and knowledge tests were identical.</p> <p><it>Main Outcome Measures: </it>Improvement in knowledge immediately and 3-months after course completion, compared to baseline.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Baseline characteristics were similar in both arms (n = 29 each). Median knowledge score for Biostatistics increased from a baseline of 49% to 64% (p < 0.001) 3 months after the on-site course, and from 48% to 63% (p = 0.009) after the on-line course. For the on-site Research Ethics course, median score increased from 69% to 83% (p = 0.005), and for the on-line Research Ethics course from 62% to 80% (p < 0.001). Three months after the course, median gains in knowledge scores remained similar for the on-site and on-line platforms for both Biostatistics (16% vs. 12%; p = 0.59) and Research Ethics (17% vs. 13%; p = 0.14).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>On-line and on-site training formats led to marked and similar improvements of knowledge in Biostatistics and Research Ethics. This, combined with logistical and cost advantages of on-line training, may make on-line courses particularly useful for expanding health research capacity in resource-limited settings.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T08:14:58Z |
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| id | doaj.art-b3a86fd46db2467b9055c9e5ec905570 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T08:14:58Z |
| publishDate | 2011-06-01 |
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| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-b3a86fd46db2467b9055c9e5ec9055702022-12-21T19:10:35ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202011-06-011113710.1186/1472-6920-11-37A Comparison of Online versus On-site Training in Health Research Methodology: A Randomized StudyKanchanaraksa SukonSisson Stephen DAggarwal AmitaBhan AnantAli JosephTaylor HollyKass NancyGupte NikhilAggarwal RakeshMcKenzie-White JaneMcGready JohnMiotti PaoloBollinger Robert C<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Distance learning may be useful for building health research capacity. However, evidence that it can improve knowledge and skills in health research, particularly in resource-poor settings, is limited. We compared the impact and acceptability of teaching two distinct content areas, Biostatistics and Research Ethics, through either on-line distance learning format or traditional on-site training, in a randomized study in India. Our objective was to determine whether on-line courses in Biostatistics and Research Ethics could achieve similar improvements in knowledge, as traditional on-site, classroom-based courses.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p><it>Subjects: </it>Volunteer Indian scientists were randomly assigned to one of two arms.</p> <p><it>Intervention: </it>Students in Arm 1 attended a 3.5-day on-site course in Biostatistics and completed a 3.5-week on-line course in Research Ethics. Students in Arm 2 attended a 3.5-week on-line course in Biostatistics and 3.5-day on-site course in Research Ethics. For the two course formats, learning objectives, course contents and knowledge tests were identical.</p> <p><it>Main Outcome Measures: </it>Improvement in knowledge immediately and 3-months after course completion, compared to baseline.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Baseline characteristics were similar in both arms (n = 29 each). Median knowledge score for Biostatistics increased from a baseline of 49% to 64% (p < 0.001) 3 months after the on-site course, and from 48% to 63% (p = 0.009) after the on-line course. For the on-site Research Ethics course, median score increased from 69% to 83% (p = 0.005), and for the on-line Research Ethics course from 62% to 80% (p < 0.001). Three months after the course, median gains in knowledge scores remained similar for the on-site and on-line platforms for both Biostatistics (16% vs. 12%; p = 0.59) and Research Ethics (17% vs. 13%; p = 0.14).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>On-line and on-site training formats led to marked and similar improvements of knowledge in Biostatistics and Research Ethics. This, combined with logistical and cost advantages of on-line training, may make on-line courses particularly useful for expanding health research capacity in resource-limited settings.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6920/11/37 |
| spellingShingle | Kanchanaraksa Sukon Sisson Stephen D Aggarwal Amita Bhan Anant Ali Joseph Taylor Holly Kass Nancy Gupte Nikhil Aggarwal Rakesh McKenzie-White Jane McGready John Miotti Paolo Bollinger Robert C A Comparison of Online versus On-site Training in Health Research Methodology: A Randomized Study BMC Medical Education |
| title | A Comparison of Online versus On-site Training in Health Research Methodology: A Randomized Study |
| title_full | A Comparison of Online versus On-site Training in Health Research Methodology: A Randomized Study |
| title_fullStr | A Comparison of Online versus On-site Training in Health Research Methodology: A Randomized Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Comparison of Online versus On-site Training in Health Research Methodology: A Randomized Study |
| title_short | A Comparison of Online versus On-site Training in Health Research Methodology: A Randomized Study |
| title_sort | comparison of online versus on site training in health research methodology a randomized study |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6920/11/37 |
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