Application of flipped classroom based on WeChat platform in clinical skill teaching

Objective To explore the effects of flipped classroom teaching method based on WeChat platform in clinical skill teaching. Methods Totally 207 students from grade 2014 undergraduate clinical medicine in Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology were randomly selected and divided into the control group and experimental group. The control group received traditional teaching mode of the theoretical teaching and experimental grouping, and the experimental group adopted the teaching mode of flipped classroom based on WeChat platform and experimental grouping. After training, the differences between the two groups in skill assessments were compared. A satisfaction survey about the flipped classroom based on WeChat platform was made in the experimental group. Results The scores of theoretical test in experimental group were 87.47±9.21. The scores of skill assessments including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, four-step palpation, physical measurement of children, dressing change and suture removal, and thoracentesis, were 88.92±4.79, 88.86±6.58, 88.29±6.11, 88.23±9.62, 81.69±10.94 respectively. The scores of theoretical assessment in control group were 82.27±8.69. The scores of skill assessments in control group were 84.10±5.67, 82.37±9.65, 85.75±6.91, 81.95±10.99, 78.74±10.12 respectively. The differences between the experimental group and the control group were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The questionnaire survey in the experimental group showed that the flipped classroom teaching method based on WeChat platform could improve the ability of independent learning 94.2% (98/104), control their learning progress and frequency liberally 93.3%(97/104), deepen and consolidate their understanding of relevant knowledge 92.3%(96/104), get convenient access to knowledge 85.6% (89/104), and increase the learning efficiency 96.2%(100/104). Conclusions The application of flipped classroom based on WeChat platform was effective and feasible in clinical skill teaching, and may significantly improve the learning outcomes, which was better than the traditional teaching mode. Key words: Flipped classroom; Clinical skills teaching; WeChat platform; Independent study