Effectiveness of Demonstration Observation Assistance Performance (DOAP) and Video Assisted Learning (VAL) in teaching blood pressure measurement among MBBS students

BACKGROUND: The skill of measurement of blood pressure (BP) is limited to a brief demonstration during Phase I MBBS without retraining/reinforcement in any other phases of training. Disparity of skill retention among the students along with limitation of resource leads to lack of mastery. The study aims to determine the effectiveness of Demonstration Observation Assistance Performance (DOAP) and Video Assisted Learning (VAL) as a teaching-learning method for measurement of BP in Physiology and analyse the perception of students and faculty of DOAP and VAL as a teaching-learning tool. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted for a duration of 5 months from September 2024 to January 2025 on Phase 1 MBBS students of 2024 - 2025 batch enrolled in the Institute. Using non-randomized convenience sampling method, 148 students were divided into two groups A and B of 74 students each. Each group were divided into 11 subgroups for which a teacher is assigned and Group A were trained by DOAP while group B trained by using VAL in separate session. Assessment was done by Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for each group and the groups swap to prevent disparity. Perception using 5-point Likert scale-based feedback questionnaires were taken from both the students and the teachers to evaluate skill acquisition and learner satisfaction. Statistical analysis was done using independent t test and Chi–Square/Fisher exact test. RESULTS: There was statistically significant increase ( P value = 0.001) in the mean OSCE score of DOAP (8.52 ± 0.64) as compared to that of VAL (7.73 ± 1.06). Perception of both students and teachers shows DOAP as a more effective teaching learning method but has limitation of resources while VAL is more convenient and flexible. CONCLUSION: A combination of DOAP and VAL can create an integrated blended learning that uses the strength of both to enhance the learning of practical skills.