Evaluation of an online, case-based interactive approach to teaching pathophysiology

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate a new pedagogical approach in teaching fluid, electrolyte and acid-base pathophysiology in undergraduate students. Methods: This approach comprises traditional lectures, the study of clinical cases on the web and a final interactive discussion of these cases in the classroom. When on the web, the students are asked to select laboratory tests that seem most appropriate to understand the pathophysiological condition underlying the clinical case. The percentage of students having chosen a given test is made available to the teacher who uses it in an interactive session to stimulate discussion with the whole class of students. The same teacher used the same case studies during 2 consecutive years during the third year of the curriculum. Results: The majority of students answered the questions on the web as requested and evaluated positively their experience with this form of teaching and learning. Conclusions: Complementing traditional lectures with online case-based studies and interactive group discussions represents, therefore, a simple means to promote the learning and the understanding of complex pathophysiological mechanisms. This simple problem-based approach to teaching and learning may be implemented to cover all fields of medicine.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Pieter Canham Van Dijken

PIETER CANHAM VAN DIJKEN is the e-learning coordinator at the medical education unit of the Medical School of the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of Lausanne, Switzerland. He is an MD and has developed several programs for e-learning.

Sara Thévoz

SARA THÉVOZ is a psychologist and is the person responsible for the evaluation of teaching at the pedagogical unit of the Medical School of the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of Lausanne, Switzerland. She contributed to the statistical analysis of this manuscript.

Patrick Jucker-Kupper

PATRICK JUCKER-KUPPER is an MD and has developed content for various e-learning projects. His research interests include pedagogical approaches of information retrieval, multilingual terminology and e-learning in general.

FranÇois Feihl

FRANÇOIS FEIHL is an MD and an instructor in Pathophysiology at the Medical School of the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of Lausanne, Switzerland. His research interests center on the pathophysiology of septic shock.

Raphaël Bonvin

RAPHAËL BONVIN is Director of the medical education unit at the Medical School of the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of Lausanne, Switzerland. He is an MD and trained in internal medicine and in medical education.

Bernard Waeber

BERNARD WAEBER is Professor of Pathophysiology at the Medical School of the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of Lausanne, Switzerland. His main interests in research are cardiovascular field and medical education.