Impact of an Interactive, Animation-Based Electroencephalography Curriculum on Learner Confidence and Knowledge

Background: There is a national need for innovative electroencephalography (EEG) education with efficacy evaluated by rigorous statistical analysis. We created a dynamic, online resource that includes a series of animated videos at a single academic medical center.Methods: For the animations and interactive module, we used VideoScribe and Articulate, respectively. The module comprised three chapters: (1) Origin & Technical Aspects of EEG, (2) Normal Adult EEG in Wakefulness & Sleep, and (3) Abnormal EEG, with appendices on artifacts, variants, activation procedures, seizure/epilepsy classification, and neonatal/pediatric EEG. The curriculum and knowledge assessments were reviewed independently by two fellowship-trained physicians before distribution. Linear mixed-effects models with bootstrapping were used to compare paired pre-and post-tests as well as Likert scale questionnaires.Results: Forty-nine learners participated in the pretest survey; 38 matched participants completed post-tests (78%). Learners across fields perceived benefit (100% would recommend to colleagues), indicated improved self-efficacy (P < 0.0001), and performed better on post-test knowledge assessments (54.1 vs 88.2%, P < 0.0001). In the neurology providers subgroup (n = 20), pretest scores correlated with years in training (Spearman r = 0.52, P = 0.039), neurology rotations (r = 0.70, P = 0.003), epilepsy/EEG rotations (r = 0.6, P = 0.014), and EEG teaching hours (r = 0.62, P = 0.01); content knowledge and self-efficacy improvement for neurology providers remained significant in a multivariate model adjusting for these covariates.Conclusions: This animation-based, interactive EEG module proved effective in elevating learner confidence and knowledge across several medical specialties and training levels. Further study across in-stitutions and subspecialties is needed to substantiate broad applicability, but our data appear promising for early EEG learners.(c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.