From knowledge to safe practice: comparing face-to-face and microlearning-based e-learning for patient transfer training in emergency medical services
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN75609371 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN75609371 |
| Sponsor | Shiraz University of Medical Sciences |
| Funder | Shiraz University of Medical Sciences |
- Submission date
- 12/09/2026
- Registration date
- 22/09/2026
- Last edited
- 22/09/2026
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel frequently care for injured patients who need to be moved safely before reaching hospital. Training in patient transfer and prehospital trauma care is therefore an important part of their role. Traditionally, this training is delivered face to face, but newer approaches such as microlearning use short online lessons that may be more flexible and accessible. The aim of this study is to compare face-to-face education with microlearning-based e-learning and determine which method is more effective at improving knowledge, clinical skills and learner satisfaction among EMS personnel.
Who can participate?
EMS personnel working in Malayer County, Iran, aged 22 to 50 years, who hold a bachelor's degree in a medical sciences subject and agree to take part in the study.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives face-to-face training delivered in five 45-minute sessions that include teaching, discussion and practical exercises. The other group receives the same educational content through 15 short online microlearning sessions delivered as videos. Both groups also complete practical training using simulation equipment. Researchers assess participants' knowledge and clinical skills before and after training and ask them to complete a questionnaire about their satisfaction with the educational programme. The results are then compared between the two groups.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may improve their knowledge and practical skills in patient transfer and prehospital trauma care. The study may also help identify effective and flexible training methods for EMS personnel. No significant risks are expected, although participants must give time to complete the training and questionnaires.
Where is the study run from?
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2024 to December 2024.
Who is funding the study?
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences</Funder Name>, Iran.
Who is the main contact?
Zahra Karimian, Karimian@sums.ac.ir, z_karimian_z@yahoo.com
Contact information
Scientific, Public, Principal investigator
Department of E-Learning in Medical Sciences, Virtual School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Shiraz
7134814336
Iran
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-5631-6448 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +987132300037 |
| Karimian@sums.ac.ir |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Allocation | Randomized controlled trial |
| Masking | Blinded (masking used) |
| Control | Dose comparison |
| Assignment | Sequential |
| Purpose | Health services research |
| Scientific title | Comparison of face-to-face and microlearning-based e-learning for patient transfer training among emergency medical services personnel: a two-group pretest–posttest study |
| Study objectives | To compare face-to-face education with microlearning-based e-learning in terms of their effects on knowledge, clinical skills, and course satisfaction among emergency medical services personnel receiving prehospital trauma care training. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 09/08/2024, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Ethics Committee (IR.SUMS.REC.1403.231, Shiraz, 7134814336, Iran; 987132300037; z_karimian_z@yahoo.com), ref: IR.SUMS.REC.1403.231 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Patient transfer and prehospital trauma care |
| Intervention | Sampling and randomisation procedure The list of eligible personnel was obtained from the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Center in Malayer County. Each eligible participant was assigned a unique identification number. Participants were then randomly allocated to the two study groups using a simple lottery-based randomisation procedure. Participant numbers were randomly drawn and allocated equally between the groups, with 41 participants initially assigned to each group. One participant from each group subsequently withdrew from the study, resulting in 40 participants per group in the final analysis. Face-to-face education Participants received face-to-face patient transfer and prehospital trauma care training in five 45-minute sessions. Each session included approximately 30 minutes of instructor-led teaching and 15 minutes of question-and-answer and discussion. The training used PowerPoint presentations, images, demonstrations, practical activities, and hands-on practice in a simulation/manikin setting. Intervention 2 — Microlearning-based e-learning Participants received the same educational content and learning objectives through 15 electronic microlearning sessions, each lasting approximately 10–15 minutes. The sessions were developed using iSpring software and delivered as MP4 videos through a dedicated group on the Bale platform. The intervention also included practical activities and hands-on practice in a simulation/manikin setting. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Completion date | 01/12/2024 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 22 Years |
| Upper age limit | 50 Years |
| Sex | Male |
| Target sample size at registration | 82 |
| Total final enrolment | 78 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Emergency medical services personnel working in Malayer County who held a bachelor's degree in a medical sciences field and provided informed consent to participate in the study. |
| Key exclusion criteria | Participants who withdrew from the study or failed to complete at least 80% of the study questionnaire were excluded from the analysis. |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/07/2024 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/12/2024 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Iran
Study participating centres
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other files | 22/09/2026 | No | No |
Additional files
Editorial Notes
14/09/2026: Study’s existence confirmed by the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Ethics Committee, Iran.
