BACKGROUND: Although lecture handouts are commonly given to students during theory lectures, students' perception, as well as their performance, can vary depending on the type of handouts they receive for information processing.
METHODOLOGY: This is a quasi-experimental study involving 6(th) semester medical students. The study was conducted during theory lectures on ophthalmology. The two types of notes given to the students were comprehensive handout and a skeleton handout, which included some lecture notes but required substantial annotation by the students. Pre-test and post-test in the form of multiple choice questions were conducted before and after the lecture session, respectively.
RESULTS: There was a significant difference of mean score of pre- and post-test between skeletal handout (pre = 1.85 ± 1.275, post = 4.85 ± 0.363) and full handout (pre = 1.92 ± 1.09 post = 2.61 ± 0.771) with P < 0.001. However, the students' responses to questionnaires indicated a strong preference for much detailed handouts as essential to preparation for examinations.
CONCLUSION: The student can improve their performance during examination while working on skeletal handouts during theory lectures i n spite of showing a preference for complete handouts.
KEYWORDS:Handout; interactive; lecture; medical student; skeleton