Investigation of the effectiveness of different teaching methods regarding orthotic fabrication among occupational therapy students
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN66780706 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN66780706 |
- Submission date
- 07/10/2025
- Registration date
- 09/10/2025
- Last edited
- 09/10/2025
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
This study aims to compare three different ways of teaching orthotic fabrication (also called splinting) to occupational therapy students. Orthotic fabrication involves designing and making custom-made splints that support or protect the hand and wrist. Because splinting is a practical skill that requires hands-on training, it can be challenging to teach online. The study will compare traditional face-to-face teaching, fully online classes, and a blended approach (a mix of both). The goal is to find out which method helps students perform better, feel more confident, and be more satisfied with their learning experience.
Who can participate?
Students currently enrolled in the occupational therapy program at Kuwait University who have no previous experience in splint or orthosis fabrication can take part. Students must be available for all sessions during the study period. Those who already have prior splinting experience or cannot attend all sessions will not be included.
What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly divided into three groups:
• Group 1: Face-to-face instruction in the university laboratory.
• Group 2: Blended instruction (two online theory sessions and two in-person lab sessions).
• Group 3: Fully online learning through Zoom sessions.
Each group will complete four classes over two weeks, each lasting 60–90 minutes, focusing on making different types of splints. In the final week, each student will make a splint independently, which will be evaluated by two experts using a grading checklist. Students will also complete a short online survey about their confidence and satisfaction with the learning method.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may gain new knowledge and hands-on experience in orthotic fabrication, which could improve their practical skills and confidence for clinical work. There are minimal risks, but students might experience minor discomfort such as hand fatigue . All activities will be supervised by experienced instructors to ensure safety.
Where is the study run from?
The study will be conducted at the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, in collaboration with the Occupational Therapy Department.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study is expected to start in November 2025 and will run for approximately three weeks in total: two weeks of teaching, and one weeks for evaluation and data analysis.
Who is funding the study?
The study is funded and supported by the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University.
Who is the main contact?
Ms Anfal H. Al-Huwaidi, anfal.alhuwaidi@ku.edu.kw
Contact information
Public, Scientific, Principal Investigator
Kuwait, Hatten
Kuwait
-
Kuwait
 ORCID ID |
0009-0008-1315-0872 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +965 51122435 |
| anfal.alhuwaidi@ku.edu.kw |
Study information
| Study design | Interventional randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | University/medical school/dental school |
| Study type | Other |
| Participant information sheet | 48144_PIS.pdf |
| Scientific title | Investigation of the effectiveness of different teaching methods regarding orthotic fabrication among occupational therapy students: a randomized controlled trial |
| Study objectives | Occupational therapy students who receive blended learning (a combination of online and face-to-face instruction) will demonstrate higher splint fabrication quality, confidence, and satisfaction compared to those in fully online or traditional face-to-face learning groups. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 28/04/2025, HSC Ethical Committee (Safat, Kuwait city, -, Kuwait; +965 25319504; HSC.ETHICALCOMMITEE@KU.EDU.KW), ref: VDR/EC -2025-95 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Orthotic fabrication among occupational therapy students |
| Intervention | This study will evaluate the effectiveness of three different teaching methods using two primary outcome measures: 1. splint quality assessment and 2. student self-reported confidence and satisfaction. By integrating objective performance evaluation with subjective student perceptions, this study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of face-to-face, blended, and fully online teaching methods on orthotic fabrication training. Participants will be randomly divided into three groups: • Group 1: Face-to-face instruction in the university laboratory. • Group 2: Blended instruction (two online theory sessions and two in-person lab sessions). • Group 3: Fully online learning through Zoom sessions. Each group will complete four classes over two weeks, each lasting 60–90 minutes, focusing on making different types of splints. In the final week, each student will make a splint independently, which will be evaluated by two experts using a grading checklist. Students will also complete a short online survey about their confidence and satisfaction with the learning method. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | Splint Quality Assessment: this assessment will be used after the training period where each participant will fabricate a wrist cock-up splint independently, which will be assessed by two expert evaluators using a validated grading sheet. |
| Secondary outcome measures | Student Confidence and Satisfaction Survey: before the training program and after the independent splint fabrication, participants will complete an online self-assessment survey measuring: 1. Confidence in splint fabrication 2. Perceived preparedness for clinical practice 3. Overall satisfaction with their assigned learning method |
| Overall study start date | 28/04/2025 |
| Completion date | 01/01/2026 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Other |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Upper age limit | 25 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 60 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Actively enrolled in the OT program 2. Available for the full duration of the training 3. No prior experience in splint fabrication |
| Key exclusion criteria | Students with previous training in orthotic fabrication or those unable to commit to all scheduled sessions |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/11/2025 |
| Date of final enrolment | 10/11/2025 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Kuwait
Study participating centre
Kuwait city
-
Kuwait
Sponsor information
University/education
Fourth Ring Road, Jabriya
Hawalli Governorate
Kuwait City
90805
Kuwait
| Phone | +965 24984879 |
|---|---|
| dean.fahs@ku.edu.kw | |
| Website | http://www.kuniv.edu/ku |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/021e5j056 |
Funders
Funder type
University/education
Government organisation / Local government
- Alternative name(s)
- KU
- Location
- Kuwait
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 01/05/2026 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Published as a supplement to the results publication |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication in a peer-reviewed journal |
| IPD sharing plan | The dataset generated and or analyzed during the current study will be published as a supplementary data to the results published |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | 09/10/2025 | No | Yes |
Additional files
Editorial Notes
09/10/2025: Study's existence confirmed by the HSC Ethical Committee.
