Infection Prevention and Control EducationNCT07888127
Effectiveness of Directed Self Learning Versus Instructor-Led Teaching Using an Identical Standardized Instructional Module on Infection Prevention and Control Among Undergraduate Allied Health Sciences Students
A study testing Directed Self-Learning (DSL) and Instructor-Led Teaching (ILT) in people with Infection Prevention and Control Education and Health Professions Education, run by Lahore General Hospital.
Trial summary
This randomized controlled educational trial will compare Directed Self-Learning (DSL) with Instructor-Led Teaching (ILT) for teaching Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) to undergraduate Allied Health Sciences students. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Infection Prevention and Control Education, Health Professions Education
- What is being tested?
- Directed Self-Learning (DSL) and Instructor-Led Teaching (ILT)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 128 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 30 Sep 2026to 12 May 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 30 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
None listed.
Who cannot join
- Previous formal training in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). Absence during the educational intervention session.
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
This randomized controlled educational trial will compare Directed Self-Learning (DSL) with Instructor-Led Teaching (ILT) for teaching Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) to undergraduate Allied Health Sciences students. Participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either independently engage with a standardized IPC instructional module or receive faculty-led teaching using the identical module. Knowledge will be assessed using a 20-item multiple-choice questionnaire before and after the intervention. The primary outcome will be knowledge gain, calculated as the difference between post-test and pre-test knowledge scores.
Read the detailed description
Directed Self-Learning (DSL) is a structured educational approach in which learners independently engage with predefined learning objectives and educational resources, promoting active engagement, autonomy, and responsibility for learning. Although instructor-led teaching remains widely used, it requires direct faculty involvement and may be influenced by faculty availability.
This study will examine whether the mode of learning influences knowledge acquisition when the instructional content is standardized. Both educational approaches will use an identical instructional module on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), with the same learning objectives, instructional content, clinical scenarios, illustrations, summary points, and duration of learning. The key distinction between the approaches will be independent engagement with the module in DSL versus active faculty delivery and explanation of the same material in instructor-led teaching.
By controlling the instructional content and varying the mode of learning, the study aims to determine whether knowledge gain differs between Directed Self-Learning and Instructor-Led Teaching among undergraduate Allied Health Sciences students. The findings may inform the use of structured independent learning as an alternative approach for delivering selected IPC educational content.
- Being tested
- Directed Self-Learning (DSL), Instructor-Led Teaching (ILT)
- Keywords
- Directed Self-Learning;, Health Professions Education, Instructor-Led Teaching, Undergraduate Students, Knowledge Gain;
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Directed Self-Learning (DSL)Behavioural
Participants will independently engage with a standardized instructional module on Infection Prevention and Control for 45-60 minutes in a supervised classroom setting. The learning objectives, instructional content, clinical scenarios, illustrations, and summary points will be predefined. Participants will work through the module independently and at their own pace without direct teaching, explanation, or content-related guidance from the facilitator
Instructor-Led Teaching (ILT)Behavioural
Participants will receive a 45-60-minute structured teaching session delivered by a faculty member using the standardized instructional module on Infection Prevention and Control. The instructor will actively explain the concepts, discuss the clinical scenarios, and respond to participants' content-related questions. The learning objectives, instructional content, clinical scenarios, illustrations, summary points, and duration of learning will be identical to those used in the Directed Self-Learning group.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Directed Self-Learning (DSL) | Experimental | Participants will independently engage with the standardized Infection Prevention and Control instructional module for 45-60 minutes in a supervised classroom setting. Students will work through the module independently and at their own pace, without direct teaching, explanation, or content-related guidance from the facilitator. Receives: Behavioral: Directed Self-Learning (DSL) |
| Instructor-Led Teaching (ILT) | Active comparator | Participants will receive a 45-60-minute structured teaching session delivered by a faculty member using the standardized instructional module on Infection Prevention and Control. The instructor will actively explain the concepts, discuss clinical scenarios, and respond to students' content-related questions. The instructional content and duration will be identical to those used in the Directed Self-Learning group. Receives: Behavioral: Instructor-Led Teaching (ILT) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Knowledge Gain in Infection Prevention and Control
Knowledge gain will be calculated for each participant as the difference between the post-intervention and pre-intervention knowledge scores. Knowledge will be assessed using a researcher-developed 20-item multiple-choice questionnaire based on the predefined learning objectives and content of the standardized Infection Prevention and Control instructional module. Scores range from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating greater knowledge. Knowledge gain will be calculated as: post-test score - pre-test score.
Measured: Immediately after completion of the 45-60-minute educational intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Oct 2026
- Study start30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion12 May 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Infection Prevention and Control EducationStudies 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to two parallel groups. One group will undergo Directed Self-Learning using a standardized instructional module, while the other group will receive Instructor-Led Teaching using the identical module. Both groups will receive the same instructional content and duration; only the mode of learning will differ.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 128 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Lahore General Hospital
- Sponsor type
- Other government
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Natasha Bushra, Lahore General Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07888127
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 197
- Other IDs
- irb no 197
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 22 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effectiveness of Directed Self Learning Versus Instructor-Led Teaching Using an Identical Standardized Instructional Module on Infection Prevention and Control Among Undergraduate Allied Health Sciences Students
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07888127
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 197
- Keywords
- Directed Self-Learning;, Health Professions Education, Instructor-Led Teaching, Undergraduate Students, Knowledge Gain;
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 128 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Lahore General HospitalOther government
- Study start
- 30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 12 May 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 22 Oct 2026 (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.
This randomized controlled educational trial will compare Directed Self-Learning (DSL) with Instructor-Led Teaching (ILT) for teaching Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) to undergraduate Allied Health Sciences students. Participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either independently engage with a standardized IPC instructional module or receive faculty-led teaching using the identical module. Knowledge will be assessed using a 20-item multiple-choice questionnaire before and after the intervention. The primary outcome will be knowledge gain, calculated as the difference between post-test and pre-test knowledge scores.
Detailed description
Directed Self-Learning (DSL) is a structured educational approach in which learners independently engage with predefined learning objectives and educational resources, promoting active engagement, autonomy, and responsibility for learning. Although instructor-led teaching remains widely used, it requires direct faculty involvement and may be influenced by faculty availability.
This study will examine whether the mode of learning influences knowledge acquisition when the instructional content is standardized. Both educational approaches will use an identical instructional module on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), with the same learning objectives, instructional content, clinical scenarios, illustrations, summary points, and duration of learning. The key distinction between the approaches will be independent engagement with the module in DSL versus active faculty delivery and explanation of the same material in instructor-led teaching.
By controlling the instructional content and varying the mode of learning, the study aims to determine whether knowledge gain differs between Directed Self-Learning and Instructor-Led Teaching among undergraduate Allied Health Sciences students. The findings may inform the use of structured independent learning as an alternative approach for delivering selected IPC educational content.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to two parallel groups. One group will undergo Directed Self-Learning using a standardized instructional module, while the other group will receive Instructor-Led Teaching using the identical module. Both groups will receive the same instructional content and duration; only the mode of learning will differ.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Directed Self-Learning (DSL) | Experimental | Behavioral: Directed Self-Learning (DSL)Participants will independently engage with the standardized Infection Prevention and Control instructional module for 45-60 minutes in a supervised classroom setting. Students will work through the module independently and at their own pace, without direct teaching, explanation, or content-related guidance from the facilitator. |
| Instructor-Led Teaching (ILT) | Active comparator | Behavioral: Instructor-Led Teaching (ILT)Participants will receive a 45-60-minute structured teaching session delivered by a faculty member using the standardized instructional module on Infection Prevention and Control. The instructor will actively explain the concepts, discuss clinical scenarios, and respond to students' content-related questions. The instructional content and duration will be identical to those used in the Directed Self-Learning group. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (0 listed)
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Previous formal training in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). Absence during the educational intervention session.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Directed Self-Learning (DSL)Participants will independently engage with a standardized instructional module on Infection Prevention and Control for 45-60 minutes in a supervised classroom setting. The learning objectives, instructional content, clinical scenarios, illustrations, and summary points will be predefined. Participants will work through the module independently and at their own pace without direct teaching, explanation, or content-related guidance from the facilitator | Behavioural | Directed Self-Learning (DSL) |
| Instructor-Led Teaching (ILT)Participants will receive a 45-60-minute structured teaching session delivered by a faculty member using the standardized instructional module on Infection Prevention and Control. The instructor will actively explain the concepts, discuss the clinical scenarios, and respond to participants' content-related questions. The learning objectives, instructional content, clinical scenarios, illustrations, summary points, and duration of learning will be identical to those used in the Directed Self-Learning group. | Behavioural | Instructor-Led Teaching (ILT) |
Primary outcome
Knowledge Gain in Infection Prevention and Control
Time frame: Immediately after completion of the 45-60-minute educational intervention
Knowledge gain will be calculated for each participant as the difference between the post-intervention and pre-intervention knowledge scores. Knowledge will be assessed using a researcher-developed 20-item multiple-choice questionnaire based on the predefined learning objectives and content of the standardized Infection Prevention and Control instructional module. Scores range from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating greater knowledge. Knowledge gain will be calculated as: post-test score - pre-test score.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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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.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Directed Self-Learning (DSL) and Instructor-Led Teaching (ILT) in people with Infection Prevention and Control Education and Health Professions Education, run by Lahore General Hospital.
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 0 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact natasha Bushra, MRCOG (03004076228, natashausman5@hotmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Knowledge Gain in Infection Prevention and Control (time frame: Immediately after completion of the 45-60-minute educational intervention). 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 22 Oct 2026.