| Abstract | OBJECTIVE: To assess pediatric residents' readiness to use computer-aided instruction (CAI). DESIGN:
Survey. SETTING: Pediatric residency program based in a tertiary care children's hospital.
PARTICIPANTS: Four pediatric residency classes. ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT: Self-administered
questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Residents' access to computers and the Internet,
experience with CD-ROM and World Wide Web computer tutorials, and attitudes toward CAI.
Responses were stratified by age, training level, sex, and previous computer education. RESULTS:
Fifty-one (69%) of the residents owned a computer. Men were more likely than women to own a
computer (20 [87%] of 23 men vs 31 [61%] of 51 women; P=.02). Medical education software was used
by 18 (28%) of 65, but only 2 (4%) of 74 had ever purchased CAI. Twenty-seven (36%) of 74 regularly
accessed medical education World Wide Web sites. Nineteen (26%) of 74 had never accessed the
Internet. Of those who had, 50 (91%) of 55 continued to do so at least weekly. Eighteen (95%) of the 19
residents who had never accessed the Internet were female (P=.005). Men were twice as likely to have
Internet access at home (P=.01) and were more likely to regularly visit medical education World Wide
Web sites (P=.02). Attitudes toward CAI were positive. Most respondents would be willing to use CAI
developed at their institution. Most residents ranked CAI ahead of printed teaching materials but behind
personal teaching by a pediatrician. Attitudes did not differ by sex. CONCLUSION: Despite positive
attitudes toward CAI, pediatric residents are not yet universally ready to use CAI. |