Comparison between the Standard Teaching and the Thai Version of Blended Teaching on Basic Airway Management in Siriraj Medical Students

Abstract

Objective: To compare the basic airway management skill score of Thai medical students who learned airway management utilizing blended peer-to-peer teaching with those who learned by the standard face-to-face approach. The learners’ pre- and post-learning confidence, satisfaction with the learning, and stress levels were evaluated. Materials and Methods: A randomized crossover study was conducted with third-year medical students in Thailand. Basic airway management was taught, including oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airway insertion, and bagmask ventilation skills. After the learning, two blinded and independent experts rated the learners on performing the procedures. Results: In total, 32 participants took part in the study. The blended group had significantly lower skill scores for oropharyngeal airway (8.69 ±1.078 and 9.69 ± 0.479, p-value 0.004) and nasopharyngeal airway (7.87 ± 1.408 and 9.38 ± 0.500, p-value 0.001) management, respectively. The bag-mask ventilation skills scores were also lower in the blended group. The confidence level was increased in both groups. Learning with the face-to-face method was found to be slightly less stressful. Overall, the majority of the students preferred learning by the standard method. Conclusion: Unlike Western students, Thai learners can learn basic airway management skills more effectively with the face-to-face instructor-led method than with the peer-oriented blended method.