The impact of airway management training by utilizing smartphone on the learning of undergraduate medical students

Smartphone-based learning is a novel learning technique in medical education. Smartphones have good potentialities to be used as a learning tool for their wide application among students. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of training airway management by utilizing smartphones on the learning of undergraduate medical students.

In this semi-experimental study, it was tried to intervene in the students’ way of learning by using smartphone training application. The participants included 120 undergraduate medical students of School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Forty students were randomly selected and divided into two groups of control and experimental. Then, teaching through two methods of traditional method (face to face) and combined method (traditional + smartphone-based software) was performed for control and experimental groups, respectively. After that the teaching was finished, the level of knowledge and practical skills of both groups were evaluated. Students' practical skills were assessed using a standard checklist on the moulage. The knowledge score was obtained using a multiple-choice written test. Finally, data were analyzed by SPSS software using independent samples t-test.

There was a significant difference between the mean score of knowledge and practical skills of the experimental group when compared to the controls (P < 0.05) and the smartphone application was efficient in improving student learning.

Utilizing smartphone application can be a complementary method for traditional education in enhancing medical skills. Accordingly, the use of blended training in medical education is suggested.