Problem-based learning in distance education: a first exploration in continuing medical education

The Wellcome Tropical Institute has assisted countries in the tropics to establish viable systems of continuing medical education; particularly for young doctors practising in rural areas. As part of this strategy the Institute has developed material for use in distance learning. The first attempt to apply the problem-based learning approach to written material for use by an individual learner in the absence of a tutor led to a trial in Ghana; Kenya and Pakistan to compare a conventionally designed module with a problem-based learning module on the same topic for their respective acceptability; effectiveness and efficiency. The design; implementation and results of these three comparative trials are presented