Using Whiteboard Animation and Patient Narratives for Learning Clinical Ophthalmology: Student Perspectives

PURPOSE: In ophthalmology, an area that lacks teaching time in university, whiteboard animation and patient narratives may be untapped resources for learning. This research will seek student perspectives on both formats. The authors hypothesise that these formats would be a useful learning tool for clinical ophthalmology in the medical curriculum. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The principal aims were to report the prevalence of using whiteboard animation and patient narratives to learn clinical ophthalmology and determine medical students’ perspectives on their satisfaction and value as a learning tool. A whiteboard animation and patient narrative video on an ophthalmological condition were provided to students attending two medical schools in South Australia. Following this, they were asked to provide feedback via an online questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 121 wholly answered surveys were obtained. 70% of students use whiteboard animation for medicine, but only 28% use it for ophthalmology. There was a significant association between the qualities of the whiteboard animation and satisfaction (P<0.001). 25% of students use patient narratives for medicine, but only 10% use it for ophthalmology. Nonetheless, most of the students reported that patient narratives are engaging and improve memory. CONCLUSION: The consensus is that these learning methods would be welcome in ophthalmology if more content like this were available. According to medical students, whiteboard animation and patient narratives are helpful methods of learning ophthalmology, and a continued effort should be made for their use.