A Randomized Trial to Estimate the Effect of an Interactive Computer Trainer on Resident Knowledge of Female Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Anatomy

OBJECTIVES: : To estimate the effect of a computer trainer on improving knowledge and attitudes of Obstetrics and Gynecology residents regarding female pelvic anatomy (PA) and pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) compared to usual teaching. METHODS: : A randomized trial was conducted between April and June 2008. Obstetrics and Gynecology residents randomized by year of training participated in a 1-hour session with a computer trainer for individual-based learning of female PA and PFD or usual teaching. Questionnaires assessing (1) knowledge of and (2) attitude regarding, or comfort with, female PA and PFD were completed at baseline and 1 month following recruitment. Residents randomized to the trainer answered trainer-specific questions on the post-intervention questionnaire. Higher scores indicated higher knowledge and comfort level. Between-group differences in pre-intervention and post-intervention questionnaire knowledge and attitude scores were analyzed. Eleven residents randomized to each group would provide a power of 0.8 at α = 0.05. RESULTS: : Twenty-two residents completed the study. There were no significant differences between residents randomized to trainer versus usual teaching in knowledge or attitude scores on the pre-intervention questionnaire (p > 0.50). There was no significant difference in median post-intervention knowledge (14 [range 13-17] vs 13 [range 10-18], P = 0.10) or attitude scores (30 [range 14-41] vs 22 [range 11-42], P = 0.49) for the residents randomized to the trainer compared to the controls. CONCLUSIONS: : In this single-center study, the trainer was not associated with significant improvements in resident knowledge or attitude scores regarding female PA and PFD.