Teaching undergraduates about familial breast cancer: comparison of a computer assisted learning (CAL) package with a traditional tutorial approach

We have developed a computer assisted learning package for teaching clinical medical students about familial breast cancer. It explains the principles of genetic predisposition to breast

cancer, the association with other cancers, the principles of family history taking and confirmation, risk assessment and possible interventions. Clinical medical students were randomised to

either conventional teaching or CAL, 48 students attended the evaluation session. Students randomised to conventional teaching received a 20 min mini-lecture, those randomised to CAL

completed the package with technical, but not academic support available. At the end of the intervention both groups of students completed a short written assessment of acceptability and

knowledge and understanding of breast cancer genetics. There was no significant difference between the CAL and mini-lecture groups in terms of marks or acceptability. Thus CAL appears to be

an acceptable and effective method of teaching clinical medical students about familial breast cancer. Although time consuming to develop, CAL can be used in a variety of settings to

increase curriculum flexibility. Methods of motivating students to complete the CAL, and of providing educational support are being explored.

This research and CAL development was supported by the University of Aberdeen, BM was funded by European Commission (Demonstration Project No. BMH4-CT96-1133).

Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK

Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK

Faculty of Medicine & Medical Sciences CAL Unit, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK

Department of Medical Genetics, Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust, Aberdeen, UK

Department of Public Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: