Objective: To develop a multimedia educational computer program designed to teach pleural drainage techniques to health professionals, as well as to evaluate its efficacy. Methods: We planned and developed a program, which was evaluated by 35 medical students, randomized into two groups. Group 1 comprised 18 students who studied using the program, and group 2 comprised 17 students who attended a traditional theoretical class given by an experienced teacher. Group 1 students were submitted to two subjective evaluations using questionnaires, and both groups took an objective theoretical test with multiple-choice questions and descriptive questions. The results of the theoretical test were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. Results: The subjective evaluation of the technological aspects and content of the program ranged from excellent to very good and good. The software was considered highly instructive by 16 students (88.9%), and 17 students (94.4%) thought it might partially substitute for traditional classes. Between the two groups, there was no significant difference in the multiple-choice test results, although there was such a difference in the descriptive question results (p < 0.001), group 1 students scoring higher than did those in group 2. Conclusions: The computer program developed at the Federal University of São Paulo Paulista School of Medicine proved to be a feasible means of teaching pleural drainage techniques. The subjective evaluation of this new teaching method revealed a high level of student satisfaction, and the objective evaluation showed that the program was as efficacious as is traditional instruction.

Keywords: Teaching; Thoracic surgery; Multimedia; Drainage; Pleural diseases.