Are virtual surgical classrooms as good as face-to-face teaching for basic surgical skills training?
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN12448098 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN12448098 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | 19071/001 |
- Submission date
- 15/04/2021
- Registration date
- 23/04/2021
- Last edited
- 03/05/2024
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Virtual classroom training (VCT) is a novel educational method that permits accessible, distanced interactive expert instruction and may improve proficiency of basic surgical skills. We tested the combined hypothesis that virtual classroom training (VCT) is superior to computer-based learning (CBL) and non-inferior to face-to-face training (FFT) for basic surgical skills acquisition.
Who can participate?
Current medical students at London Universities with access to a personal computer and smartphone.
What does the study involve?
Interventions consisted of 90-minute training sessions. VCT was delivered via the BARCO weConnect platform, FFT was provided in-person by expert instructors and CBL was carried out independently.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Benefits: Improve surgical skills
Risks: Needlestick injury
Where is the study run from?
University College London (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2020 to May 2021
Who is funding the study?
University College London and Royal College of Surgeons (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Arjun Nathan, arjun.nathan.11@ucl.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
University College London
London
WC1E 6BT
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)7595189982 |
|---|---|
| arjun.nathan.11@ucl.ac.uk |
Study information
| Study design | Parallel-group non-inferiority prospective randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised parallel trial |
| Study setting(s) | Other |
| Study type | Other |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Virtual interactive surgical skills classroom: a parallel-group, non-inferiority, adjudicator-blinded, randomised controlled trial |
| Study acronym | VIRTUAL |
| Study objectives | The researchers tested the combined hypothesis that virtual classroom training (VCT) is superior to computer-based learning (CBL) and non-inferior to face-to-face training (FFT) for basic surgical skills acquisition. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 27/11/2020, University College London Research Ethics Committee (University College London, 2 Taviton Street, London, WC1H 0BT, UK; no telephone number provided; ethics@ucl.ac.uk), ref: 19071/001 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Surgical skills education |
| Intervention | Participants will be stratified by subjective and objective suturing experience level and allocated to three intervention groups with a 1:1:1 ratio. The interventions will consist of 90-minute training sessions. Virtual classroom training will be delivered via the BARCO weConnect platform, face-to-face training will be provided in-person by expert instructors and computer-based learning carried out independently. Optimal student-to-teacher ratios of 12:1 for VCT and 4:1 for FFT will be used. The assessed task will be interrupted suturing with hand-tied knots. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure | Proficiency in placing interrupted sutures with hand tied knots. Measured using the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSAT) score post-intervention, adjudicated by two experts and adjusted for baseline proficiency. The OSAT is employed by the Royal College of Surgeons for accredited course assessment. The primary outcome was measured twice during the trial, once immediately pre-intervention and once immediately post-intervention. |
| Secondary outcome measures | Measured using questionnaires. All questionnaires were created specifically for this trial: 1. Subjective suturing and knot tying confidence measured pre- and post-intervention 2. Perceptions of intervention quality measured immediately post-intervention 3. Financial expenses associated with session attendance self-reported in British Pound sterling (GBP) immediately post-intervention 4. Confidence and perceptions assessed by five-point Likert scale questions immediately post-intervention |
| Overall study start date | 01/10/2020 |
| Completion date | 10/05/2021 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Learner/student |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 72 |
| Total final enrolment | 72 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Current medical students at London Universities with access to a personal computer and smartphone |
| Key exclusion criteria | Does not meet inclusion criteria |
| Date of first enrolment | 28/11/2020 |
| Date of final enrolment | 12/12/2020 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- United Kingdom
Study participating centre
WC1E 6BT
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
University/education
Gower Street
London
WC1E 6BT
England
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)20 7679 2000 |
|---|---|
| servicedesk@ucl.ac.uk | |
| Website | http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/02jx3x895 |
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Private sector organisation / Associations and societies (private and public)
- Alternative name(s)
- RCS
- Location
- United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 30/06/2021 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned submission for publication in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Surgery |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Arjun Nathan (arjun.nathan.11@ucl.ac.uk) from dates 1/4/21 to 1/7/22, for review of analyses only not for further analyses. This was agreed with consent from participants. All data is anonymised. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol article | 22/07/2021 | 23/07/2021 | Yes | No | |
| Results article | 29/11/2021 | 12/08/2022 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | 22/07/2021 | 03/05/2024 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
03/05/2024: Participant information sheet added.
12/08/2022: Publication reference added.
23/07/2021: Publication reference added.
22/04/2021: Trial's existence confirmed by UCL research ethics committee.
