Abstract
During the third‐year medicine clerkship, students were instructed in online computer Physician Data Query (PDQ) searches. Each student completed computer searches in at least one of five tumor topics. Students assigned to selected tumor topics performed significantly better on test questions in their assigned topic as compared to the scores of students who were not assigned that topic. Although students were encouraged to use the PDQ ad libitum, within three months of completing the clerkship, only 22 students (20%) had conducted additional searches. We conclude that PDQ instruction may enhance students’ knowledge about cancer. Student instruction can be effectively completed with minimal computer time. The results from our program evaluation and the limited student use following completion of the clerkship suggest that we should identify another user group, such as senior housestaff, to generate greater interest and more frequent use of the PDQ.
Notes
Medical Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, and Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Mo.
Information Services, J. Otto Lottes Health Sciences Library, University of Missouri‐Columbia, Columbia, Mo.
Division of Biostatistics, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Mo.
Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Mo.