PERIPHERAL VENOUS CATHETER INSERTION TRAINING: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL COMPARING PERFORMANCE AFTER ONLINE INSTRUCTOR-LED TEACHING VERSUS FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTOR-LED TEACHING

Objectives. COVID-19 pandemic has globally impacted on the education field: the process of acquiring both theoretical and practical skills has changed. Therefore, distance learning has become the most demanded mode in the education sphere, with medical studies not being an exception. The aim of the study is to compare distance practical learning via Zoom with onsite by training an intravenous catheterisation. Evaluate the results by examination for both groups using combined classification scale and a form of 10 standard questions as a valuational feedback from student side. Fulfill and optimize distance learning; promote a dual type of learning environment.
Materials and methods. Prospective randomized controlled trial; united examination via ZOOM with individual times. Unique identification number for personal data protection and objective assessment of manipulation performance. Post-exam anonymus participants survey. Research instruments: peripheral venous cathetherisation kit; international combined assessment scale; post-exam survey.
Results. Examination went 38 participants (19 from Zoom group, 19 from face to face). Results shows mean points summary is 9,54 out of 13. Minimal amount of points/no points participants gained at sterile gauze layout under catheter and stillete outputing (47% for both groups). Average manipulation time 5min 36s. First time successful attempt was 4min 25s for face to face group (With maximum amount of points -13); Successful attempt for the first time Zoom group was 3 min 52s (noting that none of ZOOM participants gained maximum points . The best results in ZOOM groups were 12,5).
Conclusions. Research results promote knowledge and development of distance practical skills learning at the same level as face-to-face training, ensuring high-quality training for medical students in in state of prohibited on-site training as a COVID-19 era, including attention on existing limitations and future effort of its elimination from educational platform. Depicting significant drawback of distance education. Update of dual training in medical thesals.