Implementation of an educational video to improve examination skills in Neuromuscular disorders

Abstract

AbstractBackground:The acquisition of practical skills is one of the main objectives of medical education. Multimedia learning tools have proven to be effective and attractive in the field of medical education and video tools can contribute to the learning of different clinical skills. Our aim is to develop a video on the learning of the neuromuscular (NM) examination for medical students.Methods:We created a 18-minutes video showing a systematic NM examination, the main pathological signs and their semiological/topographical value. 27 medical students (group A) watched the NM video and filled out a NM and a control questionnaires before and after the viewing. A control group (termed B, n= 15) filled out both questionnaires before and after watching a control video. Students from the NM group also completed a survey on the utility of the video.Results:After viewing of the NM video, the group A students significantly improved their score on the NM questionnaire (6.36 ± 1.62 vs 9.12 ± 0.69, p <0.001) but not on the control questionnaire (3.58 ± 1.49 vs 3.59 ± 1.72, p=0.868). Conversely, the group B students significantly improved their score on the control questionnaire (6.03 ± 1.39 vs 8.22 ± 1.12, p<0.0001) but not on the NM questionnaire (6.16 ± 1.67 vs 6.06 ± 2.0, p=0.889). The students self-scored their knowledge in NM at 5/10 and 7.4/10 on a visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after watching the NM video respectively. The overall usefulness of the NM video was scored 8.7/10. It was considered useful mainly for consolidating learning of the NM examination, illustrating rare semiological signs, preparing for practical evaluations and reinforcing confidence before meeting patients.Conclusions:Our video is well appreciated and useful to self-learning the NM examination and to strengthen students' self-confidence. Improving knowledge and skills is essential for optimizing early diagnosis and management of patients suffering from rare diseases such as NM diseases. Thus, video tools are suitable and relevant to improve practical skills and could be effectively used to complement classical teaching methods in the NM field.