Does individual learning styles influence the choice to use a web-based ECG learning programme in a blended learning setting?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The compressed curriculum in modern knowledge-intensive medicine demands useful tools to achieve approved learning aims in a limited space of time. Web-based learning can be used in different ways to enhance learning. Little is however known regarding its optimal utilisation. Our aim was to investigate if the individual learning styles of medical students influence the choice to use a web-based ECG learning programme in a blended learning setting.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The programme, with three types of modules (learning content, self-assessment questions and interactive ECG interpretation training), was offered on a voluntary basis during a face to face ECG learning course for undergraduate medical students. The Index of Learning Styles (ILS) and a general questionnaire including questions about computer and Internet usage, preferred future speciality and prior experience of E-learning were used to explore different factors related to the choice of using the programme or not.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>93 (76%) out of 123 students answered the ILS instrument and 91 the general questionnaire. 55 students (59%) were defined as users of the web-based ECG-interpretation programme. Cronbach's alpha was analysed with coefficients above 0.7 in all of the four dimensions of ILS. There were no significant differences with regard to learning styles, as assessed by ILS, between the user and non-user groups; Active/Reflective; Visual/Verbal; Sensing/Intuitive; and Sequential/Global (p = 0.56-0.96). Neither did gender, prior experience of E-learning or preference for future speciality differ between groups.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Among medical students, neither learning styles according to ILS, nor a number of other characteristics seem to influence the choice to use a web-based ECG programme. This finding was consistent also when the usage of the different modules in the programme were considered. Thus, the findings suggest that web-based learning may attract a broad variety of medical students.</p

Metabolic and hemodynamic effects of intravenous glutamate infusion early after coronary operations

AbstractAmino acids, particularly glutamate, have been proposed to play an important role in the recovery of cardiac oxidative metabolism after ischemia. In this investigation, the metabolic and hemodynamic effects of glutamate infusion after coronary operations were studied. From 220 to 240 ml 0.1 mol/L l-glutamic acid solution was infused in 10 patients during 1 hour starting 2 hours after operation. A control group of 10 patients received an infusion of 240 ml saline solution. During glutamate infusion, there were significant increases in the uptake of glutamate (from 0.7 ± 0.2 μmol/min in the basal state to a peak of 5.7 ± 1.2 μmol/min at 20 minutes) and lactate (from 4.9 ± 2.0 μmol/min in the basal state to 14.1 ± 4.4 μmol/min at 60 minutes; p < 0.01), whereas the uptake and release of other substrates remained essentially unaffected. Arterial glutamate levels (in whole blood) increased from 103 ± 10 μmol/L to 394 ± 20 μmol/L at 60 minutes. Thirty minutes after discontinuation of the glutamate infusion, arterial levels had decreased to 129 ± 17 μmol/L. The markedly improved utilization of lactate and the unchanged release of alanine together suggest that the oxidative metabolism of the heart was stimulated by glutamate. The metabolic changes were associated with improved myocardial performance. Left ventricular stroke work index increased from 26.8 ± 2.1 gm · beat-1 · m-2 body surface area to 31.3 ± 3.1 gm · beat-1 · m-2 body surface area during glutamate infusion. Metabolic support with amino acids may provide a means to improve recovery of metabolic and hemodynamic function of the heart early after cardiac operations. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1996;112:1468-77