Comparison of remote learning methods to on-site teaching -randomized, controlled trial

Background In the digitalized world, there is a need for developing new online teaching and learning methods. Although audio and video recordings are increasingly used in everyday learning, little scientific evidence is available on the efficacy of new online methods. This randomized trial was set out to compare the learning outcomes of online and classroom teaching methods in training healthcare students to diagnose breathing difficulties in children. Methods In total, 301 students of medicine (N = 166) and nursing (N = 135) volunteered to participate in this total sampling study in 2021–2022. The students were randomized into four groups based on teaching methods: classroom teaching (live, N = 72), streamed classroom teaching (live-stream, N = 77), audio recording (podcast, N = 79) and video recording (vodcast, N = 73). Each 45-minute lesson was taught by the same teachers and used the same protocol. The students participated an online test with their own electronic device at three distinct time points: prior to any teaching (baseline), immediately after teaching (final test), and five weeks later (long-term memory test). The test consisted of 10 multiple-choice questions on recognizing breathing difficulties from real-life videos of breathing difficulties in pre-school age. The test results scale ranged from − 26 to 28 points. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA multiple comparison and multiple regression tests. Results The mean scores (SD) of the final tests were 22.5 (5.3) in the vodcast, 22.9 (6.1) in the live, 20.0 (5.6) in the podcast (p < 0.05 vs. live) and 20.1 (6.8) in the live-stream group. The mean difference of test scores before and after the lesson improved significantly (p < 0.05) in all study groups, with 12.9 (6.5) in the vodcast, 12.6 (5.6) in the live, 10.9 (7.0) in the live-stream and 10.4 (6.9) in the podcast group. The improvement in test scores was significantly higher in the vodcast (p = 0.016) and the live (p = 0.037) groups than in the podcast group. No significant differences were found between the other groups. However, there was a nonsignificant difference towards better results in the vodcast group compared to the live-stream group. Conclusions While the new online teaching methods produce learning, only video learning is comparable to team teaching in classrooms.