Journal of Restorative Reproductive Medicine, 1, 1-9, 2025
The Effectiveness of an Elective About Fertility Awareness-Based Methods on Students’ Knowledge: A Quasi-Experimental Study of Nursing and Medical Students
To assess the effectiveness of an elective to improve students’ knowledge of fertility awareness-based methods for family planning and to determine whether there was a difference in knowledge gained by student type and/or course structure.
Design
A quasi-experimental study of preand postassessment scores among three different groups of healthcare students.
Subjects
In one group, 24 undergraduate nursing students in a semester-long hybrid course. In a second group, 16 second year medical students in a six-week hybrid selective course. In the third group, 80 fourth year medical students in a two-week online elective for a total of 120 students completing the elective from January 2018 to June 2020.
Intervention
All students completed a knowledge assessment before the course, and the identical assessment after the course, with a maximum possible score of 20. ANOVA and non-parametric tests were used for data analysis.
Main Outcome Measure
The main outcome measure was comparison of post-course scores to pre-course scores.
Results
The mean pre-course score of about 50% in the undergraduate nursing group (x) was lower than the medical students in the six-week course (y) and two-week course (z) both about 70%. However, there was no difference in the mean post-course scores between the groups, which was about 90%.
Limitations
Assessments were mandated, but lectures were not, which could skew assessment scores. Additionally, the study focused on students signing up for the elective so it may not be generalizable to all medical and nursing student populations. Finally, educational interests and demographics impacting a student’s ability to learn and retain FABM knowledge is beyond the scope of this study.
Conclusion
This elective was effective in improving fertility awareness-based method knowledge of medical and nursing students. All student groups had strong post-course knowledge scores – 90% accuracy, regardless of course structure. A fully online elective has the potential to make this knowledge easily available worldwide.
fertility awareness based methods medical student education, FABM knowledge nursing students elective course, Duane FABM medical education quasi-experimental, fertility awareness education healthcare students pre post assessment, FABM curriculum medical school nursing program, online elective fertility awareness methods student knowledge, family planning education medical students FABM, natural family planning medical education effectiveness, fertility awareness based methods knowledge assessment healthcare, FABM elective hybrid online course nursing medical students, Duane Krutar FABM student knowledge improvement
DOI 10.63264/yy0bta86 10.63264/yy0bta86 Duane et al. 2025, Duane 2025
Cite this article
Duane, M., Krutar, M., Wo, K., & Waechtler, L. (2025). The Effectiveness of an Elective About Fertility Awareness-Based Methods on Students’ Knowledge: A Quasi-Experimental Study of Nursing and Medical Students. Journal of Restorative Reproductive Medicine, 1, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.63264/yy0bta86
Duane M, Krutar M, Wo K, Waechtler L. The Effectiveness of an Elective About Fertility Awareness-Based Methods on Students’ Knowledge: A Quasi-Experimental Study of Nursing and Medical Students. J Restorative Reprod Med. 2025;1:1-9. doi:10.63264/yy0bta86
Duane, M., et al. "The Effectiveness of an Elective About Fertility Awareness-Based Methods on Students’ Knowledge: A Quasi-Experimental Study of Nursing and Medical Students." Journal of Restorative Reproductive Medicine, vol. 1, 2025, pp. 1-9.
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