The impact of a computer assisted learning programme on the ability to interpret cardiotochography. A before and after study

• Objective: To evaluate if a computer assisted learning programme could bring about a higher degree of individuals who correctly classified cardiotochography (CTG) recordings in a non-selected population of midwives and physicians. Study design: A before and after study. Setting: Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. Subjects: One hundred and thirty midwives and 49 physicians at the maternity unit, September 2009-April 2010. A computer assisted learning programme for interpreting CTG patterns has been created. All 179 individuals included made the first interpretation and the 135 individuals also completing the education made the second interpretation. A third randomly selected interpretation was performed immediately following the second; permitting two participants to classify a CTG together. Comparison between the before and after-test was based on the Fisher exact test. Main Outcome measure: The proportion of individuals who correctly classified CTGs before and after the training. Results: Sixty four percentage of the individuals classified the CTGs correctly before and 66% after the training (P=0.76). There was no difference between the two professional groups. Normal CTGs were correctly identified by 36% of the individuals before and in 80% after the training (P=0.065). Corresponding figures for pathological CTGs were 83% and 85% (P=1.00), respectively. Conclusion: We found no improvement in the proportion of individuals who classified CTGs correctly after the completion of a computer assisted learning programme in fetal monitoring. The baseline level of competence was higher than expected. © 2011 Elsevier B.V..

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Cardiotochography

Computer assisted learning programme

CTG

Fetal surveillance

article

computer assissted learning programme

fetus monitoring

human

learning style

midwife

outcome assessment

physician

priority journal

professional competence

professional knowledge

staff training

Sweden

task performance

Cardiotocography

Clinical Competence

Computer-Assisted Instruction

Education

Continuing

Female

Humans

Midwifery

Obstetrics

Pregnancy

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)