A randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of problem-based learning compared with traditional didactic lecture on otitis media among junior interns in a tertiary teaching hospital

ABSTRACT

RESEARCH QUESTION Is there a difference in the proportion of students who will achieve a score of > 60 percent in the posttest on Otitis Media under the Problem-based learning and Traditional didactic lecture? STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial SETTING: Tertiary teaching hospital SUBJECT Junior interns rotating at the department of Otolaryngology-Head &Neck Surgery. METHODOLOGY: All Junior Interns rotating in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in a tertiary teaching hospital from September 2002 to February 2003 were included in the study. They were divided into 2 groups rotating every 15 days with a total of 12 groups enrolled during the study period. The group was randomly allocated by lottery to either traditional didactic lecture or problem-based learning. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement (p=0.000) from the pre to the posttest scores of students in both groups. The TDL group had a higher proportion (91 percent) of interns who achieved a grade of > 60 percent compared with PBL group (84 percent) although there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the proportion of the students who passed the posttest examination. CONCLUSION: There is insufficient evidence to show that a difference exists between problem-based learning and traditional didactic lecture in the proportion of the students who achieved >60 percent in the posttest on Otitis Media. (Author)