In the Palm of Your Hand: A Portable, Electronic Laboratory Reference for Students in the Health Sciences

TitleIn the Palm of Your Hand: A Portable, Electronic Laboratory Reference for Students in the Health Sciences
Faculty/College/UnitMedicine
StatusCompleted
Duration1 Year
Initiation04/01/2005
Completion03/31/2006
Project Summary

Objective: To develop and evaluate a program for the personal digital assistant (PDA) that will assist students in learning how to select and interpret laboratory tests.

Rationale: The medical curriculum at UBC has no dedicated time for teaching the selection and interpretation of laboratory tests. We propose to address this shortcoming in the curriculum by making information on laboratory tests available wherever and whenever a student needs it, using electronic technology.

Methods: The applicant and a second year medical student have developed a database of information on more than 200 laboratory tests. This database will be adapted for display on a PDA in a manner that is attractive, accessible and easy to use. The program will be distributed to students during their Internal Medicine rotations in the third year of the medical program. We will evaluate student learning at the end of the rotation through an on-line test. We will also solicit feedback about the usefulness of the program through on-line surveys and personal interviews.

Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2005/2006
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorWilliam E. Schreiber
Year 1: Funded Amount41,508
Year 1: Team Members

William E. Schreiber, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
James R. Busser, Medicine, Faculty of Medicine