Objectives: Advances in technology have brought with them innovations in delivery of medical educational content; for example, audio and video podcasts, flipped classroom learning, and e-books. These new modalities may be useful for delivery of content asynchronously, as an adjunct to traditional lecture-based and bedside clinical teaching. Here, we measured the differences in knowledge acquisition between medical students using a video-based content delivery method and students using a traditional method of asynchronous content delivery (a textbook chapter). We also measured student preferences regarding asynchronous content delivery. Methods: A 4.5-minute educational video was created by a content expert using VideoScribe software. Acetaminophen toxicity was selected as the sample topic. Survey Monkey software was used to create a pre-test, post-test, and to gather data regarding student preferences. Students were given the pre-test, then they were randomized to either read a chapter on acetaminophen overdose from an emergency medicine reference text or to view the video; they were then given the post-test and the preferences survey. The results were then categorized and analysed using descriptive statistics and linear regression. Results: Sixty-nine student responses were initiated, 14 of whom did not complete the full survey, leaving 55 students who were included in the final analysis. Fifteen first year, 27 second-year, 8 third-year, and 5 fourth-year students participated. Twenty-eight students were randomized to reading the textbook chapter, and 31 were randomized to view the video; 4 students in the textbook group did not finish the educational activity. On average, students who took the video training correctly answered 1.1 (95% CI: 0.1-2.2, p = .03) more questions correctly after adjusting for pretest score and year in medical school than those who read the textbook chapter. A preference for watching a video over reading a textbook chapter was expressed by 78.4% of students, while 98% of students either agreed or strongly agreed with the statement that they would be comfortable using the internet to learn new concepts. No students reported that they were very satisfied and 57% of students reported being satisfied reading the textbook chapter, while 93.3% were either satisfied or very satisfied viewing the video. Conclusions: Video delivery of educational content was associated with higher student satisfaction and relative improvement in score compared to textbook. Students overall expressed comfort using the internet and new technology to obtain new medical education. The authors were involved with creation of the video and quiz, which may confound results. Future exploration into retention of knowledge could be warranted.
Keywords: Education; acetaminophen; asynchronous learning; digital media; medical education.