Development of a Database-Driven Website for Distribution of Neurological Teaching Videos

Patient demonstrations and videotape recordings have long been tools for teaching neurology in the classroom. However, the effectiveness of these methods has been limited by patient unreliability, costliness of analog videotape distribution, and the fact that neither format provides convenient review and reinforcement of physical exam instruction before performance-based testing. Our objective is to create digital source video recordings of neurologically diseased patients, and make them available for free download from a database-driven website and direct incorporation into curricular applications of client institutions. The present report describes the creation and use of the Neurological Teaching Videos (NTV) website (www.ntv.wright.edu) where videos and other teaching resources are stored in a database that is searchable within the HTML environment. The password-protected site is designed to allow onsite searching, browsing and preview of database contents. Database indexing uses Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) vocabulary, when possible. Diagnoses currently available include: Parkinson's Disease, Myasthenia Gravis, Multiple Sclerosis, Peripheral Facial Palsy, Posterior Fossa Tumor, Neuropathy, Cerebellar Degeneration, Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy, Cervical Myelopathy, Primary Lateral Scelerosis, and Parasagittal Tumor. A normal physical examination is also available. We feel this will supplement the effectiveness of live patients and existing analog video recordings as learning tools, and help bring performance-based testing to greater prominence in neurology education.