RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Paper Versus Digital Reading on Reading Comprehension in Health Professional Education
JF American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education
JO Am J Pharm Educ
FD American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
SP 8525
DO 10.5688/ajpe8525
VO 85
IS 10
A1 Guillaume Fontaine
A1 Ivry Zagury-Orly
A1 Marc-André Maheu-Cadotte
A1 Alexandra Lapierre
A1 Nicolas Thibodeau-Jarry
A1 Simon de Denus
A1 Marie Lordkipanidzé
A1 Patrice Dupont
A1 Patrick Lavoie
YR 2021
UL http://www.ajpe.org/content/85/10/8525.abstract
AB Objective. Despite a rise in the use of digital education in health professional education (HPE), little is known about the comparative effectiveness of paper-based reading and its digital alternative on reading comprehension. The objectives of this study were to identify, appraise, and synthesize the evidence regarding the effect of how media is read on reading comprehension in the context of HPE.Methods. Observational, quasi-experimental, and experimental studies published before April 16, 2021, were included if they compared the effectiveness of paper-based vs digital-based reading on reading comprehension among HPE students, trainees, and residents. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed using standardized mean differences.Results. From a pool of 2,208 references, we identified and included 10 controlled studies that had collectively enrolled 817 participants. Meta-analyses revealed a slight but nonsignificant advantage to students reading paper-based HPE texts rather than digital text (standardized mean difference, -0.08; 95% CI -0.28 to 0.12). Subgroup analyses revealed that students reading HPE-related texts had better reading comprehension when reading text on paper rather than digitally (SMD =  -0.36; 95% CI -0.69 to -0.03). Heterogeneity was low in all analyses. The quality of evidence was low because of risks of bias across studies.Summary. Current evidence suggests little to no difference in students’ comprehension when reading HPE texts on paper vs digitally. However, we observed effects favoring reading paper-based texts when texts relevant to the students’ professional discipline were considered. Rigorous studies are needed to confirm this finding and to evaluate new means of boosting reading comprehension among students in HPE programs.