Case-based curriculum with integrated smartphone applications improves internal medicine resident knowledge of contraceptive care

Abstract

Background: Contraception is an essential preventive service for all women. However, the literature suggests that internal medicine residents have low levels of confidence and knowledge of contraceptive care. Objective: We designed and implemented a novel contraception curriculum promoting active, collaborative learning. We sought to evaluate whether this curriculum improved internal medicine resident knowledge of and comfort with contraceptive care through the administration of pre-/post-surveys. Methods: Our curriculum was delivered in a two-hour session as part of the mandatory ambulatory curriculum for internal medicine interns at our institution in the academic year 2017–2018. Interns were provided with select online resources and two smartphone applications at the begin-ning of the session, which they then used in case-based small group work. Small group work was followed by a large group case review, co-facilitated by OB/GYN and internal medicine faculty. Results: Thirty-eight participants completed surveys assessing knowledge of and comfort with contraceptive care immediately before and after the curriculum; 20 participants completed surveys assessing the same domains 4–6 months after the curriculum. Data from surveys administered immediately post-curriculum demonstrated significant improvements in knowledge about and comfort with counseling about, assessing medical eligibility for, and initiating multiple forms of contraception. Many of these improvements in knowledge and comfort were maintained on follow-up surveys 4–6 months following the curriculum. Conclusion: Our case-based curriculum with integrated smartphone applications resulted in significant improvements in internal medicine resident knowledge of and comfort with the key skills of contraceptive care. In contrast to active, collaborative learning methodologies such as the flipped classroom, our methodology supports active, collaborative learning without requiring advance learner preparation, and is thus well suited to the time constraints of the graduate medical education setting. Our methodology is readily translatable to other clinical topics and residency curricula.