Breath of Knowledge: An Interactive Computer-Based Program and Group Exercise to Teach Gas Exchange

<b>Background:</b> Foundational principles of pulmonary gas exchange are complicated and can be difficult for trainees to master. Computer-based programs can provide opportunities for interactive instruction, but previous literature has not demonstrated the impact of such programs on learning this topic. <b>Objective:</b> To evaluate whether the addition of an interactive, clinically relevant computer-based gas exchange program and small-group exercise to reinforce principles of gas exchange improves medical student learning as measured by performance on relevant multiple-choice exam questions. <b>Methods:</b> This was a pre-post study design surrounding the implementation of a gas exchange program used during a small-group session with students working through a manual of prepared experiments during the 2023-2024 academic year at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Student examination scores before program implementation (academic year 2022-23) were compared with student examination scores after program implementation. Questions were dichotomized <i>a priori</i> based on their relevance to the principles reinforced by the program. Student perceptions of the program were assessed by a postcourse survey. <b>Results:</b> When comparing the control (<i>n</i> = 106) and intervention (<i>n</i> = 114) groups, scores improved for both non-gas exchange questions (<i>P</i> < 0.001) and gas exchange questions (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Although the improvement in gas exchange questions was greater than in other questions, this difference did not reach statistical significance (<i>P</i> = 0.09 for the interaction term). Most students were satisfied with the program and rated it more useful than a traditional didactic lecture. <b>Conclusion:</b> At a time when medical school instruction is dominated by lectures with few laboratory-based exercises, we offer this interactive, computer-based program as a strategy to reinforce principles of gas exchange. By tailoring accompanying cases and exercises to different groups of learners, this resource can be implemented in diverse settings.