METHODS Study design A quasi-experimental pre-/post-intervention comparison design was used for this study. It was chosen for several reasons. Foremost, such a design allowed each student to participate in the learning intervention. In this manner, no individual was excluded from the HFS experience to satisfy randomized controlled design requirements. The quasi-experimental structure allowed for each participant to serve as his/her own control because pre-intervention datawerematchedwithpost-interventiondataforeachindividual. In this manner, demographic variables were the pre-intervention (ie, no training) and post-intervention (ie, training) “groups.” Second, given the time structure of the intervention (ie, occurring as one part of intensive, time-limited electives in the Schools of Medicine and Nursing), it was more feasible than performing a crossover study. Finally, the quasi-experimental design made IRB
approval relatively straightforward as compared with a randomized controlled design.