Peer Review

Cardiac Anomalies/Congenital Heart Disease

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Jul 27, 2013 by Health Sciences

Bookmark

Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital posted content on congenital heart problems on its Heart Institute Encyclopedia website. The general learning goal is to understand major heart abnormalities in the pediatric population.Information is written for parents, families, and medical professionals. Congenital heart problems are listed with a detailed description of each anomaly, signs and symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment options. There are links from each anomaly to glossary terms, flash movies and graphics that show the respective defects. Content is available at no cost. This material provides an extensive information site on cardiac anomalies and congenital heart disease.This resource begins by introducing the user to the heart's main components and how they work, describes the heart's job, explains the components of the actual heartbeat, and shows the circulation of the blood in a simplified diagram. The next aspect includes signs, symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments of 17 cardiac anomalies in the pediatric population.Most of the abnormalities are not only explained in detail, but also have a glossary link, a flash movie, and a colorful graphic summary page. The next section provides a comprehensive explanation of seven major diseases that can affect the heart. Seven heart-related syndromes are explained in great detail. A thorough description of heart-related signs and symptoms is explained. Another section provides information on current methods of diagnostic technology and techniques for assessment of pediatric heart conditions. The next section deals with the most commonly used methods of treament of the pediatric cardiac abnormalities.
Type of Material:: Reference material supplemented by flash animation and graphics.
Recommended Uses:: The site is clearly intended as a reference for parents and family members impacted by congenital defects but could be used in the classroom or for individual review by a general college population, students in the healthcare professions, or as a review on specific heart defects for working professionals.
Technical Requirements:: Computer with web browser, access to the internet and a Flash player.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: No learning goals were expressly identified by the site however heart defects are listed, and information provided on signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for each defect. Upon review of the site the learner will be able to: • List congenital heart anomalies • Explain how blood flow with each defect varies from normal blood flow • Provide signs and symptoms for each anomaly • Discuss treatment options
Target Student Population:: This site is intended for lay persons. However, medical students, nursing students, health care professionals dealing with the pediatric population, practitioners of pediatric care, parents or others needing explanation or information for children with heart anomalies would benefit from the learning resources.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: A basic understanding of normal heart structure and function and circulation would facilitate understanding of the heart anomalies. Fortunately the site provides links that explain these areas for the individual who needs this information eliminating the need to go elsewhere.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: Valid, accurate, reliable; compared to other resources, this one is one of the most extensive learning resource. It is complete in scope and teaches significant concepts. It presents advanced material in an understandable, creative, and thorough methods. Exceptional!
Concerns:: None

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: This material could easily be provided via a webliography in a course, shown as a useful link in class, or shown to patients and families. It is essentially self-contained eliminating the need to go to outside sources to get a basic understanding of the respective problems, diagnoses, and treatments.
Concerns:: None

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: The information is presented by a familiar method of reading. No specific instructions for use are necessary. Graphics and the flash movies are great adjuncts to the resource. The glossary is one of the most thorough for this or any other resource. There are no obvious distractions to the content. The content has a logical flow. What is unusual is that the resource, even though highly laced with medical terms, is understandable for parents and others needing this information.
Concerns:: Not as much a concern as a comment: this resource is so extensive that it would need to be read and studied over a more lengthy time period than just one sitting.

Other Issues and Comments:: This source makes each anomaly easy to understand and is very clear with descriptions and related information.
Creative Commons: