Document Detail


Educational psychology in medical learning: a randomised controlled trial of two aide memoires for the recall of causes of electromechanical dissociation.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15208230     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVES: Although mnemonics are commonly used in medical education there are few data on their effectiveness. A RCT was undertaken to test the hypothesis that a new aide memoire, "EMD-aide", would be superior to the conventional "4Hs+4Ts" mnemonic in facilitating recall of causes of electromechanical dissociation (EMD) among house officers. METHOD: "EMD-aide", organises causes of EMD by frequency of occurrence and ease of reversibility: four groups organised by shape, colour, position, numbering, clockwise sequence, and use of arrows. Eight hospitals were randomised in a controlled trial and 149 house officers were then recruited by telephone. Baseline ability to recall causes of EMD was recorded at one minute and overall. House officers were then sent a copy of either "4Hs+4Ts" or "EMD-aide" according to randomisation group. Recall ability was retested at one month. RESULTS: 68 of 80 and 51 of 69 house officers completed the study in the "4Hs+4Ts" and "EMD-aide" groups respectively (NS) with similar baseline recall. After intervention median number of recalled causes was greater in the "EMD-aide" group, eight compared with seven at one minute (p = 0.034) and eight compared with seven overall, p = 0.067. Recall of all eight causes was more common in "EMD-aide" group, 54% compared with 35%, p = 0.054, and these house officers spent longer examining their aide memoire, p<0.001. CONCLUSIONS: "EMD-aide" may be superior to "4Hs+4Ts" in facilitating the recall of the causes of electromechanical dissociation. Educational psychology of medical learning and the use of aide memoires in general are worthy of further study.
Authors:
E Dyson; S Voisey; S Hughes; B Higgins; P J McQuillan
Publication Detail:
Type:  Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Emergency medicine journal : EMJ     Volume:  21     ISSN:  1472-0213     ISO Abbreviation:  Emerg Med J     Publication Date:  2004 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2004-06-21     Completed Date:  2005-02-22     Revised Date:  2009-11-18    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100963089     Medline TA:  Emerg Med J     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  457-60     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 3LY, UK.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Abbreviations as Topic
Anoxia / complications
Education, Medical, Graduate / methods*
Emergency Medicine / education*
Heart Arrest / etiology*
Heart Conduction System
Humans
Hypovolemia / complications
Medical Staff, Hospital
Mental Recall*
Psychology, Educational*
Retention (Psychology)
Risk Factors
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Emerg Med J. 2005 Feb;22(2):156; author reply 156   [PMID:  15662078 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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