Evaluation of the Road to Birth Software to Support Obstetric Problem-Based Learning Education with a Cohort of Pre-Clinical Medical Students
Integration of technology within problem-based learning curricula is expanding; however, information regarding student experiences and attitudes about the integration of such technologies is limited. This study aimed to evaluate pre-clinical medical student perceptions and use patterns of the “Road...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-08-01
|
| Series: | Multimodal Technologies and Interaction |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-4088/7/8/84 |
| _version_ | 1797583651901276160 |
|---|---|
| author | Megan L. Hutchcraft Robert C. Wallon Shanna M. Fealy Donovan Jones Roberto Galvez |
| author_facet | Megan L. Hutchcraft Robert C. Wallon Shanna M. Fealy Donovan Jones Roberto Galvez |
| author_sort | Megan L. Hutchcraft |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Integration of technology within problem-based learning curricula is expanding; however, information regarding student experiences and attitudes about the integration of such technologies is limited. This study aimed to evaluate pre-clinical medical student perceptions and use patterns of the “Road to Birth” (RtB) software, a novel program designed to support human maternal anatomy and physiology education. Second-year medical students at a large midwestern American university participated in a prospective, mixed-methods study. The RtB software is available as a mobile smartphone/tablet application and in immersive virtual reality. The program was integrated into problem-based learning activities across a three-week obstetrics teaching period. Student visuospatial ability, weekly program usage, weekly user satisfaction, and end-of-course focus group interview data were obtained. Survey data were analyzed and summarized using descriptive statistics. Focus group interview data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Of the eligible students, 66% (19/29) consented to participate in the study with 4 students contributing to the focus group interview. Students reported incremental knowledge increases on weekly surveys (69.2% week one, 71.4% week two, and 78.6% week three). Qualitative results indicated the RtB software was perceived as a useful educational resource; however, its interactive nature could have been further optimized. Students reported increased use of portable devices over time and preferred convenient options when using technology incorporated into the curriculum. This study identifies opportunities to better integrate technology into problem-based learning practices in medical education. Further empirical research is warranted with larger and more diverse student samples. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:41:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c90cc26359b7451087442f7f57461356 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2414-4088 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:41:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Multimodal Technologies and Interaction |
| spelling | doaj.art-c90cc26359b7451087442f7f574613562023-11-19T02:26:31ZengMDPI AGMultimodal Technologies and Interaction2414-40882023-08-01788410.3390/mti7080084Evaluation of the Road to Birth Software to Support Obstetric Problem-Based Learning Education with a Cohort of Pre-Clinical Medical StudentsMegan L. Hutchcraft0Robert C. Wallon1Shanna M. Fealy2Donovan Jones3Roberto Galvez4Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Carle Cancer Institute, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USADepartment of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USAFaculty of Science and Health, School of Nursing, Paramedicine, and Healthcare Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444, AustraliaFaculty of Science and Health, School of Nursing, Paramedicine, and Healthcare Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444, AustraliaDepartment of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USAIntegration of technology within problem-based learning curricula is expanding; however, information regarding student experiences and attitudes about the integration of such technologies is limited. This study aimed to evaluate pre-clinical medical student perceptions and use patterns of the “Road to Birth” (RtB) software, a novel program designed to support human maternal anatomy and physiology education. Second-year medical students at a large midwestern American university participated in a prospective, mixed-methods study. The RtB software is available as a mobile smartphone/tablet application and in immersive virtual reality. The program was integrated into problem-based learning activities across a three-week obstetrics teaching period. Student visuospatial ability, weekly program usage, weekly user satisfaction, and end-of-course focus group interview data were obtained. Survey data were analyzed and summarized using descriptive statistics. Focus group interview data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Of the eligible students, 66% (19/29) consented to participate in the study with 4 students contributing to the focus group interview. Students reported incremental knowledge increases on weekly surveys (69.2% week one, 71.4% week two, and 78.6% week three). Qualitative results indicated the RtB software was perceived as a useful educational resource; however, its interactive nature could have been further optimized. Students reported increased use of portable devices over time and preferred convenient options when using technology incorporated into the curriculum. This study identifies opportunities to better integrate technology into problem-based learning practices in medical education. Further empirical research is warranted with larger and more diverse student samples.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-4088/7/8/84reproductive anatomymedical educationobstetricspregnancyvirtual reality |
| spellingShingle | Megan L. Hutchcraft Robert C. Wallon Shanna M. Fealy Donovan Jones Roberto Galvez Evaluation of the Road to Birth Software to Support Obstetric Problem-Based Learning Education with a Cohort of Pre-Clinical Medical Students Multimodal Technologies and Interaction reproductive anatomy medical education obstetrics pregnancy virtual reality |
| title | Evaluation of the Road to Birth Software to Support Obstetric Problem-Based Learning Education with a Cohort of Pre-Clinical Medical Students |
| title_full | Evaluation of the Road to Birth Software to Support Obstetric Problem-Based Learning Education with a Cohort of Pre-Clinical Medical Students |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of the Road to Birth Software to Support Obstetric Problem-Based Learning Education with a Cohort of Pre-Clinical Medical Students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of the Road to Birth Software to Support Obstetric Problem-Based Learning Education with a Cohort of Pre-Clinical Medical Students |
| title_short | Evaluation of the Road to Birth Software to Support Obstetric Problem-Based Learning Education with a Cohort of Pre-Clinical Medical Students |
| title_sort | evaluation of the road to birth software to support obstetric problem based learning education with a cohort of pre clinical medical students |
| topic | reproductive anatomy medical education obstetrics pregnancy virtual reality |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-4088/7/8/84 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT meganlhutchcraft evaluationoftheroadtobirthsoftwaretosupportobstetricproblembasedlearningeducationwithacohortofpreclinicalmedicalstudents AT robertcwallon evaluationoftheroadtobirthsoftwaretosupportobstetricproblembasedlearningeducationwithacohortofpreclinicalmedicalstudents AT shannamfealy evaluationoftheroadtobirthsoftwaretosupportobstetricproblembasedlearningeducationwithacohortofpreclinicalmedicalstudents AT donovanjones evaluationoftheroadtobirthsoftwaretosupportobstetricproblembasedlearningeducationwithacohortofpreclinicalmedicalstudents AT robertogalvez evaluationoftheroadtobirthsoftwaretosupportobstetricproblembasedlearningeducationwithacohortofpreclinicalmedicalstudents |