To explore the application effect of clinical pathway based on Excel spreadsheet for arterial blood gas judgment and interpretation in teaching medical interns acid-base balance disorder.

Fifty five-year medical interns of grade 2017 in Xuzhou Central Hospital were enrolled in the study, including 22 males and 28 females, with an age ranging from 22~25 years. The students were divided into an experimental group and a control group according to the random number table method, with 25 students in each group. Two senior attending physicians with similar qualification from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) taught the experimental group and the control group, respectively. The experimental group was taught through the clinical pathway using the four-step analysis method with Excel spreadsheet design idea for arterial blood gas analysis, while the control group was taught using the classical arterial blood gas judgment method. The two groups were compared after training in terms of the theoretical examination score, the time spent on comprehending acid-base imbalance, and the results of the questionnaire survey on the satisfaction with teaching and learning.

There was no significant difference between the two groups in gender, age, and pre-test score (P＞0.05 for all). After training, compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly higher theoretical examination score [(93.4±5.1) points vs (87.4±5.6) points], percentage of students with interest stimulated [84.0% (21/25) vs 44.0% (11/25)], percentage of students with a sense of active participation in the class [76.0% (19/25) vs 40.0% (10/25)], percentage of students with improved ability of analyzing and solving problems [92.0% (23/25) vs 56.0% (14/25)], and percentage of students with self-directed practice after class [88.0% (22/25) vs 44.0% (11/25)] (P＜0.05 for all), while the time spent on comprehending acid-base imbalance was significantly shorter in the experimental group than in the control group [(88.6±12.5) min vs (121.6±24.1) min, P＜0.05]. There was no significant difference in teaching effect between the two groups (P＞0.05); however, it was believed that the clinical pathway teaching based on Excel spreadsheet for arterial blood gas analysis and interpretation was more conducive to theoretical teaching.

Clinical pathway teaching based on Excel spreadsheet for arterial blood gas analysis and interpretation is helpful for teachers to better implement acid-base balance disorder teaching and for students to better understand and judge the types of acid-base imbalance.