Educational ProblemsNCT05275829
Face-to-Face Versus Distance Learning of Basic Suturing Skills
An observational study of Educational Problems, run by American University of Beirut Medical Center at 1 site in Lebanon.
Trial summary
The main objective of this study is to determine the acceptability and effectiveness of Distance Learning (DL) of basic suturing skills in novice learners. A prospective randomized controlled trial involving 118 pre-medical and medical students with no previous experience in suturing was conducted. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Educational Problems
- What is being tested?
- Tele simulation
- How many people
- 118 participants
- Where
- 1 siteLebanon
- Study dates
- 4 Jan 2021to 19 May 2021
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Study population: Pre-medical, first, and second-year medical students from a four-year Doctor of Medicine graduate-entry programme. Premedical students include senior biology, medical laboratory, and nutrition students. All participants had no previous experience with suturing. Basic suturing is one of the educational activities of the third-year medical students, before which students are not normally exposed to basic suturing skills teaching sessions. The participants were recruited via an email sent to all the potential candidates for participation in this study.
Who may be able to join
- Pre-medical, first, and second-year medical students with no previous experience in suturing.
Who cannot join
- Previous experience in suturing.Refusal of enrolment.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Traditional Face-to-Face Versus Distance Learning of Basic Suturing Skills in Novice Learners
The main objective of this study is to determine the acceptability and effectiveness of Distance Learning (DL) of basic suturing skills in novice learners.
A prospective randomized controlled trial involving 118 pre-medical and medical students with no previous experience in suturing was conducted. Participants were randomized into two groups for learning simple interrupted suturing: F-F and DL groups (59 students in each group) . Evaluation was conducted by two independent assessors. Agreement between the assessors was calculated, and performance scores of the participants were compared between the two groups.
Read more
All the participants demonstrated their ability to place three interrupted sutures, with no significant difference in the performance between the two groups. All the respondents positively rated the teaching sessions, found them useful and enjoyable.
Distance learning of basic suturing is as effective as the face-to-face approach in novice learners
Read the detailed description
At our hospital, during the initial lock-down period in March and April 2020, all medical students' clinical clerkships were temporarily cancelled, and their educational activities switched to web-based remote learning, utilizing teleconferencing and commercially available web-based interactive clinical modules. Teaching surgical technical skills, such as basic suturing, presented itself as a more challenging component of the clinical education under these unusual circumstances as compared to teaching cognitive skills and knowledge, which raised questions and concerns around the effectiveness and acceptability of distance learning of basic surgical skills.
In this study, the investigators aimed to compare the effectiveness and retention of distance learning to the traditional face-to-face learning of basic (simple interrupted) suturing in novice learners. This study entails a prospective randomized trial involving two arms (traditional face-to-face versus distance learning of basic simple interrupted suturing) in pre-medical students as well as first and second year medical students at the American University of Beirut (AUB). Immediately after the teaching session as part of research, two independent surgeons assessed the students' simple interrupted suturing performance using a validated checklist and OSATS global rating.
The difference in performance was used to determine the effectiveness of distance learning of basic suturing as compared to the traditional instructional method. In addition, the students in both groups were asked to complete a questionnaire (immediately after the teaching session) to investigate their satisfaction and confidence.
- Conditions
- Educational Problems
- Being tested
- Tele simulation
- Keywords
- Medical Education, Suturing Skills, Face-to-Face learning, Distance Learning, Pandemic
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Tele simulationOther
Interactive tele simulation sessions utilising web-based video-conferencing technology (WebEx platform).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control group: Face-to-Face learning of simple interrupted suturing | * The students watched a video demonstrating simple interrupted suturing, with the instructor commenting on the steps. * The students then watched the video again. * The instructor then demonstrated the procedure for the students. * The students then practiced suturing with immediate and specific feedback provided by the instructor until he and the students were satisfied with the performance. | |
| Study group: Distance learning (tele simulation) of simple interrupted suturing | * The instructor ran the interactive tele simulation sessions utilising web-based video-conferencing technology (WebEx platform). The students used their personal smartphones or laptops with audio-video capabilities. The instructor ran the session through his smartphone.
* The instructor shared a video demonstrating simple interrupted suturing while commenting on the steps (the same video used in the control group).
* The instructor then ran the video again for the students.
* The instructor then demonstrated the skill for the students by turning on his camera.
* The students then practiced suturing, and periodically turned on their cameras to receive live and specific feedback from the instructor on their performance, until the instructor and the students were satisfied.
* No face-to-face interactions between the students and the instructor. Receives: Other: Tele simulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Assessment of suturing skills in medical students via checklist
The adopted ten-item checklist for assessing suturing skills in medical studentS differentiated between novice and expert performances and showed a narrow variation in the scores provided by three independent expert assessors.
Overall performance scores were calculated based on the formula used by the same authors: "cutoff time (seconds) - completion time (seconds) - (10 x sum of errors)" with higher scores indicating better performance
Measured: immediately after the intervention(suturing session)
Secondary outcomes (1)
Assessment of suturing skills in medical students via OSATS
OSATS is a validated observational assessment tool also used in medical students. It comprises of seven performance domains whereby learners are scored on a 5-point Likert scale on proper tissue handling, efficiency and economy of movements, instrument handling, suture handling, flow of the procedure, knowledge of the steps of the procedure, overall appearance of the suture, in addition to an overall assessment of the performance; higher scores indicate better performance
Measured: immediately after the intervention(suturing session)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Mar 2022
- Study start4 Jan 2021
- Primary completion19 May 2021
- Study completion19 May 2021
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Educational ProblemsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 118 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- American University of Beirut Medical Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dr. Ahmad Zaghal, American University of Beirut Medical Center
- Investigators
- Ahmad Zaghal, MD, MSc, FACS, FEBPS, Principal investigator, American University of Beirut Medical Center ; Department of Surgery
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05275829
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SBS-2020-0378
- Status last verified
- Mar 2022
- First submitted
- 24 Feb 2022
- Last updated
- 11 Mar 2022
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to the Institutional Review Board requirements but are available from the corresponding author upon a reasonable request.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 Mar 2022. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Traditional Face-to-Face Versus Distance Learning of Basic Suturing Skills in Novice Learners
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05275829
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SBS-2020-0378
- Conditions
- Educational Problems
- Keywords
- Medical Education, Suturing Skills, Face-to-Face learning, Distance Learning, Pandemic
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 118 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- American University of Beirut Medical CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 4 Jan 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 19 May 2021 (actual)
- Study completion
- 19 May 2021 (actual)
- First posted
- 11 Mar 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The main objective of this study is to determine the acceptability and effectiveness of Distance Learning (DL) of basic suturing skills in novice learners.
A prospective randomized controlled trial involving 118 pre-medical and medical students with no previous experience in suturing was conducted. Participants were randomized into two groups for learning simple interrupted suturing: F-F and DL groups (59 students in each group) . Evaluation was conducted by two independent assessors. Agreement between the assessors was calculated, and performance scores of the participants were compared between the two groups.
All the participants demonstrated their ability to place three interrupted sutures, with no significant difference in the performance between the two groups. All the respondents positively rated the teaching sessions, found them useful and enjoyable.
Distance learning of basic suturing is as effective as the face-to-face approach in novice learners
Detailed description
At our hospital, during the initial lock-down period in March and April 2020, all medical students' clinical clerkships were temporarily cancelled, and their educational activities switched to web-based remote learning, utilizing teleconferencing and commercially available web-based interactive clinical modules. Teaching surgical technical skills, such as basic suturing, presented itself as a more challenging component of the clinical education under these unusual circumstances as compared to teaching cognitive skills and knowledge, which raised questions and concerns around the effectiveness and acceptability of distance learning of basic surgical skills.
In this study, the investigators aimed to compare the effectiveness and retention of distance learning to the traditional face-to-face learning of basic (simple interrupted) suturing in novice learners. This study entails a prospective randomized trial involving two arms (traditional face-to-face versus distance learning of basic simple interrupted suturing) in pre-medical students as well as first and second year medical students at the American University of Beirut (AUB). Immediately after the teaching session as part of research, two independent surgeons assessed the students' simple interrupted suturing performance using a validated checklist and OSATS global rating.
The difference in performance was used to determine the effectiveness of distance learning of basic suturing as compared to the traditional instructional method. In addition, the students in both groups were asked to complete a questionnaire (immediately after the teaching session) to investigate their satisfaction and confidence.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control group: Face-to-Face learning of simple interrupted suturing | – | –* The students watched a video demonstrating simple interrupted suturing, with the instructor commenting on the steps. * The students then watched the video again. * The instructor then demonstrated the procedure for the students. * The students then practiced suturing with immediate and specific feedback provided by the instructor until he and the students were satisfied with the performance. |
| Study group: Distance learning (tele simulation) of simple interrupted suturing | – | Other: Tele simulation* The instructor ran the interactive tele simulation sessions utilising web-based video-conferencing technology (WebEx platform). The students used their personal smartphones or laptops with audio-video capabilities. The instructor ran the session through his smartphone. * The instructor shared a video demonstrating simple interrupted suturing while commenting on the steps (the same video used in the control group). * The instructor then ran the video again for the students. * The instructor then demonstrated the skill for the students by turning on his camera. * The students then practiced suturing, and periodically turned on their cameras to receive live and specific feedback from the instructor on their performance, until the instructor and the students were satisfied. * No face-to-face interactions between the students and the instructor. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- Pre-medical, first, and second-year medical students from a four-year Doctor of Medicine graduate-entry programme. Premedical students include senior biology, medical laboratory, and nutrition students. All participants had no previous experience with suturing. Basic suturing is one of the educational activities of the third-year medical students, before which students are not normally exposed to basic suturing skills teaching sessions. The participants were recruited via an email sent to all the potential candidates for participation in this study.
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Pre-medical, first, and second-year medical students with no previous experience in suturing.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Previous experience in suturing.Refusal of enrolment.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Tele simulationInteractive tele simulation sessions utilising web-based video-conferencing technology (WebEx platform). | Other | Study group: Distance learning (tele simulation) of simple interrupted suturing |
Primary outcome
Assessment of suturing skills in medical students via checklist
Time frame: immediately after the intervention(suturing session)
The adopted ten-item checklist for assessing suturing skills in medical studentS differentiated between novice and expert performances and showed a narrow variation in the scores provided by three independent expert assessors. Overall performance scores were calculated based on the formula used by the same authors: "cutoff time (seconds) - completion time (seconds) - (10 x sum of errors)" with higher scores indicating better performance
1 secondary outcome
Assessment of suturing skills in medical students via OSATS
Time frame: immediately after the intervention(suturing session)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 Mar 2022.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to the Institutional Review Board requirements but are available from the corresponding author upon a reasonable request.
Related trials for Educational Problems
Not yet recruiting
Standardized Educational Videos of Laparoscopic Gynecological Surgeries
Educational Problems, Surgery
Active, not recruiting
Impact of Surgical Coaching on Resident ObGyn Laparoscopic Skills
Educational Problems
Not yet recruiting
Evaluation of a Couple-based Psycho-socio-educational Intervention Using WeChat/WhatsApp on Dyadic Psychological and Sleep Outcomes
Sleep Problems, Psychological
Active, not recruiting
Fostering Healthy Futures for Teens: An RCT
Child Abuse, Child Neglect
Recruiting
Health Equity and Rural Education (HERE!) Clinical Trial
Behavioral Symptoms, Community Health Workers
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Ahmad Zaghal, MD, MSc, FACS, FEBPS principal investigator
American University of Beirut Medical Center ; Department of Surgery
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Educational Problems, run by American University of Beirut Medical Center at 1 site in Lebanon.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Mar 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Lebanon. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Assessment of suturing skills in medical students via checklist (time frame: immediately after the intervention(suturing session)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Mar 2022; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 30 Oct 2026.