Randomized controlled trial of an instructional DVD for clinical skills teaching

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of clinical skills teaching using a DVD-based teaching medium (interventional group) compared with the traditional, four-step, face-to-face approach (control group). The clinical skill selected for the study was that of paediatric intraosseous (IO) needle insertion. METHODS: Thirty-six candidates who had no exposure to IO needle insertion experience within the past 12 months were randomly allocated into two groups. The interventional group (n = 18) was shown a 10 min instructional DVD and then allowed 10 min each to practise IO insertion with a paediatric training mannequin. The control group (n = 18) was given a 20 min, four-step, face-to-face teaching session with practical exposure and individual use of an IO needle on a training mannequin facilitated by an instructor. Each candidate was assessed using a checklist of critical steps for successful IO needle insertion and given a score out of 10. A modified Likert score reflecting candidates' subjective perceptions of the whole experience was completed after the test. RESULTS: The interventional group obtained a mean score of 7.56 (SD 1.65) and the control teaching group a mean score of 6.00 (SD 1.84). The mean difference was -1.56 (P < 0.01, 95% CI -2.74 to -0.37). There was no difference in the candidates' perception on the satisfaction, anxiety and confidence level about the teaching experience. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that the use of instructional DVD for clinical skills teaching results in improved learning outcomes compared with the traditional face-to-face didactic teaching method.