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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.
Design: Interventional, randomized, parallel-assignment trial with three arms (digital interactive peer support, face-to-face peer support, standard training). Allocation is approximately equal across arms; masking is not used.
Setting and participants: Medical students who meet eligibility criteria at a university clinical skills program. Participants provide informed consent prior to enrollment.
Interventions:
Assessments and timing: A baseline checklist may be collected as part of routine instruction. Primary endpoint is the OSCE total score obtained immediately post-intervention.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Interactive Peer Support | Experimental | Structured peer support via an online platform (modules, quizzes, discussion, and peer feedback). |
|
| Face-to-Face Peer Support | Experimental | Structured in-person peer sessions with guided practice, observation, and formative feedback (fece-to-face) |
|
| Standard Training (Usual Curriculum) | Active Comparator | Usual curriculum-based clinical skills training without additional structured peer support. |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Interactive Peer Support | Behavioral | Individually randomized participants receive digital interactive peer support. |
|
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Reflection Skills Scale Total Score | Assessed using a validated reflection skills instrument [write the full, unabbreviated scale name]. Scores range [min-max] points; higher scores indicate stronger reflection skills. No results or conclusions are included here. | Immediately post-intervention |
| Retention of Clinical Skills (OSCE Total Score) |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Remzi Yavas Kincal, PhD | Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University | Study Chair |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Medicine | Çanakkale | Center | 17020 | Turkey (Türkiye) |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42243478 | Derived | Yurdal MO, Kincal RY. Effects of digital versus face-to-face peer support on clinical skills: a three-arm randomized trial. NPJ Digit Med. 2026 Jun 4. doi: 10.1038/s41746-026-02862-5. Online ahead of print. |
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No plan to share individual participant data. This study involves educational records and student assessment data; consent did not include external data sharing. Aggregate (de-identified) results will be available in publications.
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| Type | Includes Protocol | Includes SAP | Includes ICF | Document Label | Document Date | Document Uploaded Date | Document File Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prot_SAP | Yes | Yes | No | Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan | Sep 16, 2025 |
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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.
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OSCE assessors were blinded to group assignment. Students were instructed not to disclose allocation, and assessment materials contained no arm-specific cues.
| Face-to-Face Peer Support | Behavioral | Individually randomized participants receive face-to-face peer support. |
|
| Standard Training (Control) | Behavioral | Standard Training (Usual Curriculum)-Participants receive usual curriculum-based training without structured peer support. |
|
Follow-up OSCE total score at the specified time point using the same scoring rubric as the immediate OSCE. Higher scores indicate better performance. No results or conclusions are included here. |
| 8 weeks post-intervention |
| Sep 16, 2025 |
| Prot_SAP_000.pdf |
| ICF | No | No | Yes | Informed Consent Form | Sep 16, 2025 | Sep 16, 2025 | ICF_001.pdf |