Application of PBL Mode in a Resident-Focused Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography Training Program: A Perspective of MOOC Environment

BACKGROUND: Massive open online courses (MOOCs) is a new teaching technology based on a network platform, which can provide more students with the possibility of systematic and repeated learning. Due to the complexity of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), the wide range of knowledge involved, and many knowledge points being difficult to understand, it is difficult to meet the teaching needs of this content with the traditional teaching mode. This study aimed to discuss the application of lecture based learning (LBL) and problem based learning (PBL) in the training of perioperative TEE in the context of MOOCs. METHODS: Sixty residents were randomly divided into two groups to participate in a 5-day perioperative TEE training program. The web-based PBL mode was used in the observation group and the LBL mode was used in the control group, with 30 residents in each group. The teaching effect of the web-based PBL mode was compared with the LBL mode by basic theory test, practice examination, image interpretation and questionnaire. RESULTS: The image interpretation score and the total test score were higher in the observation group than in the control group with statistically significant differences (P<0.001). The results of the questionnaire show that the residents were more satisfied with the web-based PBL mode than the LBL mode (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The web-based PBL method has obvious advantages over the LBL mode in the training of perioperative TEE.