Effectiveness of iPad® as a Pedagogical Tool to Enhance the Learning of Ultrasonography

Effectiveness of iPad® as a pedagogical tool to enhance the learning of ultrasonography

Background
Ultrasound has several advantages, such as that it allows real time images capture and it does not involve ionizing radiation. One of the main disadvantages is the difficulty to interpret. We believe that the use of e-books implemented with multimedia tools could shorten the learning curve of ultrasonography of Veterinary Medicine students.

Aim
To assess the effectiveness of two methods for ultrasonography learning: e-book (Ipad®) versus printed document.

Material and methods
This study involved 35 Veterinary students who were divided into two groups of similar experience in ultrasound (Groups A and B), and another group composed of 11 Veterinarians with experience in ultrasonography (Group C). Groups A and B performed a specific training on basic ultrasound and abdominal ultrasound examination in dogs during one hour and a half; group C served as experienced control group. Groups A and B responded to a test about “Abdominal Ultrasound examination in dogs” before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the training session, whereas group C did not follow the training session and responded once to the test. The test consists of a 36 multiple choice questions. The training session was performed in Group A by means of a specific e-book for iPad®, and in group B a printed paper document with similar educational content was employed. […]