Effectiveness of a digital interactive multimedia tutorial for preparing veterinary students to perform ultrasonography in horses.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a digital interactive multimedia tutorial (DIMT) for preparing veterinary students to perform ultrasonography in horses.

Sample: 42 third-year veterinary students.

Procedures: Students were randomly assigned to 3 instructional methods: independent study (ie, 45 minutes to read a highlighted textbook chapter), lecture (ie, 45-minute lecture by a faculty member), or digital interactive multimedia tutorial (DIMT; ie, 45-minute narrated, interactive module). Written and practical tests were administered after each instruction session. For the practical test, each student was required to obtain a series of ultrasound images of a live horse, and images were later scored for quality by an individual unaware of the instructional method used.

Results: Higher-quality ultrasound images were obtained by veterinary students who had reviewed the DIMT rather than the analogous information in textbook chapters. No difference in scores was identified between students in the lecture group and those in the DIMT group. Students' perceptions suggested that practical instruction facilitated by clinicians was a key component of learning how to perform ultrasonography in horses.

Conclusions And Clinical Relevance: Results supported the use of DIMTs in preparing veterinary students to perform ultrasonography in horses.