Effectiveness of Video Learning Materials for the Spine and Gait Physical Exam for Medical Skills

Background and/or Objectives: Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) are essential in medical education, closely mirroring clinical practice. With increasing interest in optimizing musculoskeletal (MSK) teaching, no study has yet examined the best method for teaching the spine and gait exam. This study explores whether a video with embedded clinical correlations enhances student learning, hypothesizing it as the most effective approach.

Design: A randomized controlled study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a video-based teaching intervention compared to traditional textbook materials.

Setting : This study was conducted in a medical school setting within the Medical Skills course.

Participants : 80 first-year California Northstate University College of Medicine students consented to participate in the study and were evenly randomized into the control or intervention group.

Interventions: The intervention group watched a custom instructional video with clinical correlations embedded, while the control group used textbook materials along with publicly available exam demonstration videos.

Main Outcome Measures: Students' confidence, anatomical clarity, special test comprehension, and likelihood of revisiting materials were assessed via an anonymous post-class survey and analyzed using an unpaired t-test.

Results: A total of 63 responses were received, with six excluded due to incomplete surveys. Participants who viewed our instructional video reported significantly greater confidence in performing the spine and gait physical exam compared to the control group (p = 0.0005). The video was rated as highly effective in explaining relevant anatomy (p < 0.0001) and in clarifying special tests and their associated pathological mechanisms (p < 0.0001). Additionally, students who watched the video reported a significantly higher likelihood of revisiting pre-class materials for review compared to other supplemental resources (p = 0.0002).

Conclusions: A video demonstrating the spine and gait physical exam with clinical tie-ins is a significantly more effective teaching method for medical students.