POSTER

Use of a web-course to instruct medical students on proper infection control procedures.

Authors: Michael A. Barone, Mary Ann Sartain, Amy E. Winkler, Lisa C. Phifer, Alexander M. Nason.
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. Baltimore, MD

Background: Patient safety is a paramount concern. Respiratory and contact isolation procedures reduce morbidity from nosocomial infections. Medical students rotating through the pediatrics clerkship at Johns Hopkins did not receive orderly, universal infection control education. Nursing and housestaff felt that students had significant knowledge deficits. Resource limitations made teaching this topic difficult during clerkship orientation. We developed the goal of creating a high quality web-course which addressed our resource limitations, created uniform content, and allowed students to learn important techniques on their own time.

Methods: A web-course on personal protective equipment (PPE) was piloted through the pediatrics clerkship. At orientation, students were given instructions to complete the online web-module. Successful completion of the course and a 14-question knowledge assessment was required within 10 days of the start of the clerkship. Student compliance and scores were recorded.

Results: The course was required of 40 students over two academic terms. Overall, 37/40 (93%) students successfully logged onto the course. Performance scores were available for 36/40 (90%) students with mean correct answer score of 95%. One student (2.5%) did not complete the exam due to technical problems. Three students (7.5%) did not log onto the course. Anecdotal reports from housestaff and nursing suggested improved student skills for these procedures. Student satisfaction with the course was measured (results not presented). Formal outcomes on nosocomial infections have not been studied.

Conclusions: At the start of a pediatrics clerkship, the use of a web course allows for uniform, asynchronous instruction on infection control procedures.