[Computer-based training in dermatooncology--a preliminary report comparing electronic learning programs with face-to-face teaching].

BACKGROUND: Electronic media are increasingly used in medical education. The question arises whether tutorial programs are as effective as innovative face-to-face didactic formats.

METHODS: 26 students underwent a special dermatooncology course in an integrated undergraduate medical curriculum. One part of the content was acquired face-to-face with emphasis on team learning and mini-lectures; the other part was presented as web-based electronic computer-based training objects. The performance of the students in a subsequent multiple choice test was evaluated.

RESULTS: In total, questions referring to computer-based training contents were answered correctly in 90.4 +/- 12.5 %, which was significantly superior to the questions referring to team learning in the face-to-face teaching format (80.6 +/- 13.1 %; p < 0.001). There was, however, a significant correlation between both results for each individual student (r = 0.52; p < 0.01), but there was no correlation between the results obtained for computer-based training or team learning on the one hand, and the overall performance of the individual student on the other.

CONCLUSIONS: Though different contents were concerned, our study provides evidence that computer-based training may be more efficient than face-to-face teaching using team learning to communicate dermatooncology contents in an undergraduate medical curriculum.