Computer-assisted instruction in probabilistic reasoning during the inpatient medicine clerkship.

ABSTRACT

The acceptability and utility of computer-assisted instruction in probabilistic reasoning was assessed for medicine clerkship students. After a pretest, the experimental (n = 40), but not the control students (n = 39), completed a program that we designed. The program contained the test and its answers. After program exposure, experimental students rated their knowledge of the program's content significantly higher (p = 10(-4)) than control students. On the identical posttest, experimental students also scored significantly higher than control students (p = 10(-4)) and improved their scores significantly more (p = 10(-3)). They rated ease-of-use items significantly higher than content-relevance items (p = 10(-4)). We conclude that computer-assisted instruction in probabilistic reasoning is acceptable to clerkship students, and that it may improve their knowledge and skills in this area. However, students may rate the vehicle of this instruction more highly than its content.