The Use of a Daily Quiz ‘TOPday’ as Supportive Learning Method for Medical Students

Abstract

Medical students consider anatomy, neurology, and traumatology as difficult study topics. A recent study showed that the daily quiz ‘Two Opportunities to Practice per day (TOPday)’ positively supported biomedical students in analyzing and solving biomechanical problems. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of TOPday on self-confidence, enthusiasm, and test results for the topics anatomy, neurology and traumatology. Second-year medical students were enrolled in a four-week course on the human skeletal system at the Radboudumc (n = 799). They were randomized over three topic groups (anatomy, neurology, and traumatology) and received TOPday quizzes on every course day. At the end of the course students filled in a non-anonymous questionnaire. Students highly appreciated TOPday (7.5±0.9) and this did not differ between groups (anatomy: 7.4±0.8; neurology: 7.4±1.1; traumatology: 7.5±0.8; P = 0.68). Many students reported that TOPday increased their self-confidence (65% of the students) and enthusiasm (69% of the students) for their topic. However, test results of the students did not improve. A potential explanation for the latter result may relate to the different cognitive processes that are required to study anatomy, neurology, and traumatology compared to biomechanics. In conclusion, appreciation, self-confidence and enthusiasm were positively associated with TOPday, but test results were not.