E-learning Teaching During Anesthesia Residency

The participants first have a pre-test consisting of a clinical case and a script concordance test (SCT). The clinical case was designed to evaluate theoretical clinical knowledge. The clinical case scored 50 points and consisted of 4 open-ended questions (12,5 points for each question) on the management and complications of the diabetic patient in anesthesia. The SCT consisted of 15 questions on the management of the diabetic patient in anesthesia (degenerative neuropathy, ischemic cardiopathy, intubation, management of hyperglycemia, postoperative complications) and was also scored out of 50 points. The participants had 15 minutes for the clinical case and 15 minutes for the SCT.

The pre-test was conducted in a double-blind way, each participant did not know in which group they would be. Each test had a double-blind correction by two senior anesthesiologists. The participants were then randomized to either the Interactive-EL group (Int-EL group) or a Passive-EL group (Pass-EL group).

The Int-EL group had full access to a pedagogical internet platform with online documents; national experts' recommendations on the management of diabetic patients in anesthesia, slide presentation lectures on the topic by local university teachers, and, the possibility to contact a virtual mentor (anaesthesiologist of our department) by email for interactive discussion or questions about the topic.

The Pass-EL group only received by email the documents (French experts' recommendations and slide presentation lectures on the management of diabetic patients in anesthesia) and did not have access to the pedagogical internet platform. The e-learning training period was one month for both groups. The investigators then conducted, in both groups, a post-test composed of the same clinical case and the same SCT.

The time allotted for the post-test was identical to that of the pre-test, and students were not allowed to access external resources during either test.

Each test had a double-blind grading by two senior anesthesiologists.

The tests were developed by two experts in anesthesiology and medical education within our department. The participants in the Pass-EL group had the option to access the platform at the end of the study to complete the e-learning course, should they choose to do so.

Inclusion criteria

• All anesthesiology residents from first to fourth year in both centers (participants)

Exclusion criteria

• Exclusion criteria included residents missing the pre-or post-tests or refusing to participate in the training program.