Effect of Digital Interactive and Face-to-Face Peer Support on Medical Students' Clinical Skill Performance, Reflection Skills, and Retention of Clinical Skills

NCT07186569 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2023-YÖNP-0719
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 98
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized educational trial compares two peer-support approaches for teaching clinical skills to medical students. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) Digital interactive peer support delivered through an online platform with structured tasks and feedback; (2) Face-to-face peer support delivered in small group sessions with guided practice; or (3) Standard training according to the usual curriculum. All participants complete an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) immediately after training, and complete a validated questionnaire to assess reflection skills. A follow-up OSCE is administered to evaluate retention of clinical skills. There is no drug or device involved and risks are minimal.

Conditions

Clinical Skills Education; Peer Support Interventions; Medical Students; Objective Structured Clinical Examination; Clinical Competence; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Students, Medical; Social Support

Keywords

Peer support; Digital learning; Face-to-face learning; OSCE; Reflection; Skill retention; Medical students; Clinical skills; Randomized Controlled trial

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Total Score

  Assessed using an OSCE comprising standardized stations scored with validated checklists. Total score range \[min-max\] points; higher scores indicate better clinical skill performance. No results or conclusions are included here.

  Immediately post-intervention

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Reflection Skills Scale Total Score

  Immediately post-intervention

• Retention of Clinical Skills (OSCE Total Score)

  8 weeks post-intervention

Study Arms (3)

Digital Interactive Peer Support

EXPERIMENTAL

Structured peer support via an online platform (modules, quizzes, discussion, and peer feedback).

Behavioral: Digital Interactive Peer Support

Face-to-Face Peer Support

EXPERIMENTAL

Structured in-person peer sessions with guided practice, observation, and formative feedback (fece-to-face)

Behavioral: Face-to-Face Peer Support

Standard Training (Usual Curriculum)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Usual curriculum-based clinical skills training without additional structured peer support.

Behavioral: Standard Training (Control)

Interventions

Digital Interactive Peer Support BEHAVIORAL

Individually randomized participants receive digital interactive peer support.

Digital Interactive Peer Support

Face-to-Face Peer Support BEHAVIORAL

Individually randomized participants receive face-to-face peer support.

Face-to-Face Peer Support

Standard Training (Control) BEHAVIORAL

Standard Training (Usual Curriculum)-Participants receive usual curriculum-based training without structured peer support.

Standard Training (Usual Curriculum)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Enrolled medical students \[1st year\]
• Age ≥18 years and able to provide informed consent
• Sufficient proficiency in the language of instruction
• Access to the digital platform (for the digital arm)
• Availability for post-intervention and follow-up assessments

You may not qualify if:

• Prior formal certification or extensive training in the targeted clinical skills
• Inability to attend scheduled peer-support sessions (digital or face-to-face)
• Conditions that would prevent participation in OSCE/assessment procedures

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Medicine

Çanakkale, Center, 17020, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Officials

• Remzi Yavas Kincal, PhD

  Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: OSCE assessors were blinded to group assignment. Students were instructed not to disclose allocation, and assessment materials contained no arm-specific cues.
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Individually randomized, parallel-group, three-arm educational trial. Participants are allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio to: (A) Digital Interactive Peer Support, (B) Face-to-Face Peer Support, or (C) Standard Training (control). Interventions are delivered during the clinical skills course; there is no masking. Outcomes are assessed immediately post-intervention, with a follow-up assessment to evaluate retention at a predefined interval.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 16, 2025
• First Posted: September 22, 2025
• Study Start: February 24, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 7, 2025
• Study Completion: September 1, 2025
• Last Updated: September 22, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)