Assessment of an e-learning platform for dermatosurgery

Background: Dermatosurgical (DS) teaching is based on a combination of reading/understanding textbooks and applying surgical procedures (+/- supervision). Most textbooks are primarily text-centered. The text is visually supported by photos/sketches (S) and possibly videos (V). A learning goal of this teaching should be that the learner is confident to perform a procedure independently. Methods: We have developed an online-based platform, the FlapFinder (FF; www.skin-surgery.org), which teaches the user DS in the facial region primarily in the form of S+V. These are supported by a short text (T) and bonus material (B). B contains personal recommendations from the FF authors. A SurveyMonkey (R) (Survey Monkey, San Mateo, CA, USA) analysis should clarify how this is assessed by the user. Results: In all, 62 participants completed the questionnaire in full. This was a heterogeneous group (27 dermatologists vs. 35 non-dermatologists; 32x clinic vs. 30x non-clinic) with different prior experience. The majority of users found that the combination of T+S+V helped them to understand (55/62; 88.7%), remember (53/62, 85.5%), and perform the procedures independently (43/62; 69.3%). While S+V were most frequently used (22/62; 35.5% and 27/62; 43.6%), users reported having benefited most from this (20/62; 32.3% and 24/62; 38.7%), T+B were used less (0/62, 0.0% and 2/62; 3.2%). Nevertheless, the majority would not want to do without either S, V, T, or B (49/62; 79%). Conclusion: The combination of S+V+T+B is rated positively by DS learners. S+V are rated as particularly helpful. Future studies must clarify whether the learning objective of the concrete practical performance of DS is changed by e-media.