Anthropomorphic Character Animations Versus Digital Chalk Talks in a Resident Diabetes Pharmacotherapy Curriculum: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Animation in medical education has boomed over the past two decades, and demand for distance learning technologies will likely continue in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, experimental data guiding best practices for animation in medical education are scarce.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of two animated video styles in a diabetes pharmacotherapy curriculum for internal medicine residents.

Design: Learners were randomized to receive one of two versions of the same multimodal didactic curriculum. They received identical lectures, group activities, and quizzes, but were randomized to either digital chalk talk (DCT) videos or Sugar-Coated Science (SCS). SCS is an animated series using anthropomorphic characters, stories, and mnemonics to communicate knowledge.

Participants: Ninety-two internal medicine residents at a single academic medical center received the curriculum within ambulatory medicine didactics.

Main measures: Knowledge was measured at multiple time points, as was residents' self-reported comfort using each medication class covered. Surveys assessed video acceptability and telepresence. Key themes were identified from open-ended feedback.

Key results: Baseline knowledge was low, consistent with prior needs assessments. On immediate posttest, mean scores were higher with SCS than DCT (74.8% versus 68.4%), but the difference was not statistically significant, p = 0.10. Subgroup analyses revealed increased knowledge in the SCS group for specific medication classes. Delayed posttest showed significant knowledge gains averaging 17.6% across all participants (p < 0.05); these gains were similar between animation types. SCS achieved significantly higher telepresence, entertainment, and acceptability scores than DCT. Qualitative data suggested that residents prioritize well-designed, multimodal curricula over specific animation characteristics.

Conclusion: SCS and DCTs both led to learning within a multimodal curriculum, but SCS significantly enhanced learner experience. Animation techniques exemplified by both SCS and DCTs have roles in the medical educator toolkit. Selection between them should incorporate context, learner factors, and production resources.

Keywords: animation; diabetes; graduate medical education; multimedia.