Effect of assessment media on student performance in histology identification tasks

BACKGROUND Traditionally, Histology is taught and assessed using a microscope and glass slides in practical classes. However a cross-disciplinary approach to teaching with integration of anatomy and pathology, whilst pedagogically sound, in practice means that the Histology content forms just part of an assessment. For efficiency, assessment then relies on printed images (colour or black and white) rather than a microscope. As identification tasks rely heavily on the quality on images it is important to determine what effect the different media used in teaching versus assessment has on student performance. AIMS The aims of the study were to compare student’s performance in assessment identification tasks using different media for images. Student perception of these images was also surveyed. DESIGN AND METHODS A single cohort of second year Medical Science students (240) enrolled in five (5) Units of Studies over two semesters was surveyed. The content covered in each unit examined the histology and anatomy of different body systems. Histology images in each assessment were provided in the following sequence: black and white printed-colour projected-colour printed-black and white printed At the end of the fifth assessment, students were surveyed on their attitudes to the different media used in the assessment. Mean marks for identification tasks were compared using paired t-tests. RESULTS STUDENT PERFORMANCE Students performed significantly better in identification tasks using colour printed images compared with black and white or projected images. STUDENT PERCEPTION 68% of students were satisfied with the method of testing and agreed that the exam format adequately assessed the learning outcomes. The majority of students did not want to be examined using a microscope, however they would appreciate images of varying magnification of the one tissue. Students felt it would be easier to pass an exam if slides were printed (52%) rather than projected (26%) or glass (22%). CONCLUSIONS Our students were not concerned when there was a mismatch between the method of teaching (glass slides) and the method of examination (printed or projected images). Overwhelmingly, their stated preference was for assessment using printed images, with a preference for colour. Very few students preferred to be examined with projected images or glass slides. This preference is reflected in the students’ examination results. Students performed best when colour printed images were used and poorest with colour projected images. Performance improved between semesters in both black and white and colour printed tests suggesting improvement with experience. A clear confounder in this study is the difference in content between units of study. This is being explored further by repeating the process in a different sequence with a new cohort

The longitudinal effects of midwife-led postnatal debriefing on the psychological health of mothers

To assess the effect of midwife-led postpartum debriefing on psychological variables, 149 women were recruited in the third trimester of their pregnancy and were randomly assigned to treatment and control conditions. Women in the treatment group received midwife-led postpartum debriefing within 3 days postpartum, whereas women in the control group did not receive formalised debriefing. Background information and psychological variables were assessed in the prepartum, and birthing information was gathered 2 days postpartum. The psychological variables, plus a measure of birth trauma, were re-assessed at 1 month, and again, together with a measure of parenting stress, at 3 months postpartum. Although the majority of women reported positively on their debriefing experience, statistical analyses indicated that only on the measure of dyadic satisfaction was there some suggestion that debriefing was effective. There were no significant differences between the treatment and control groups on measures of personal information, depression, anxiety, trauma, perception of the birth, or parenting stress at any assessment points, postpartum. On the other hand, the effect of medical intervention on women's perceptions of their birthing was evident, with women who experienced more medical intervention reporting more negative perceptions of their birthing than women who had experienced less medical intervention. Surprisingly, this difference was more marked among the women who had been debriefed than among the control group. Generally, the results did not support midwife-led debriefing as an effective intervention postpartum. © 2006 Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology.C

The longitudinal effects of midwife-led postnatal debriefing on the psychological health of mothers

To assess the effect of midwife-led postpartum debriefing on psychological variables, 149 women were recruited in the third trimester of their pregnancy and were randomly assigned to treatment and control conditions. Women in the treatment group received midwife-led postpartum debriefing within 3 days postpartum, whereas women in the control group did not receive formalised debriefing. Background information and psychological variables were assessed in the prepartum, and birthing information was gathered 2 days postpartum. The psychological variables, plus a measure of birth trauma, were re-assessed at 1 month, and again, together with a measure of parenting stress, at 3 months postpartum. Although the majority of women reported positively on their debriefing experience, statistical analyses indicated that only on the measure of dyadic satisfaction was there some suggestion that debriefing was effective. There were no significant differences between the treatment and control groups on measures of personal information, depression, anxiety, trauma, perception of the birth, or parenting stress at any assessment points, postpartum. On the other hand, the effect of medical intervention on women's perceptions of their birthing was evident, with women who experienced more medical intervention reporting more negative perceptions of their birthing than women who had experienced less medical intervention. Surprisingly, this difference was more marked among the women who had been debriefed than among the control group. Generally, the results did not support midwife-led debriefing as an effective intervention postpartum. © Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology