Comparison of the effectiveness of digital flashcards and lecture-based teaching on learning and retention among dental students in periodontitis diagnosis
To determine and compare the effectiveness of digital flashcard teaching method versus lecture-based method on initial learning and one-month long-term retention among dental students in periodontitis diagnosis
Design
A randomized controlled clinical trial with a parallel design (two groups, random allocation), unblinded, conducted as a comparative study, with a sample size of 50 (25 per group)
Settings and conduct
This study is a parallel randomized controlled clinical trial (with two parallel groups: the digital flashcard intervention group and the traditional lecture control group) conducted to compare the effectiveness of two educational methods in the Department of Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, on 50 dental students (25 per group). The educational intervention is carried out over 3 days, and learning is evaluated immediately and one month after the intervention. This study is conducted as an unblinded trial.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
The study is conducted on 50 dental students passing the Periodontics (1) course;
Inclusion criteria include informed readiness, willingness, and sufficient motivation;
Exclusion criteria comprise prior experience with digital flashcards to prevent prior exposure bias and using auxiliary study methods other than routine handouts and PowerPoint slides
Intervention groups
The intervention consists of two groups: the digital flashcard group receiving 20 interactive flashcards over 3 days (15 minutes daily), and the control group (traditional lecture) receiving a 45-minute lecture with PowerPoint
Main outcome variables
Learning score immediately after education; Retention score one month after education; Students' satisfaction level with the educational method
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20151013024509N6
Registration date:2026-10-31, 1405/08/09
Registration timing:registered_while_recruiting
Last update:2026-10-31, 1405/08/09
Update count:0
Registration date
2026-10-31, 1405/08/09
Registrant information
Name
Fahimeh Rashidi Maybodi
Name of organization / entity
Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 912 519 6227
Email address
f-rashidi63@ssu.ac.ir
Recruitment status
recruiting
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-10-17, 1405/07/25
Expected recruitment end date
2026-12-09, 1405/09/18
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
Comparison of the effectiveness of digital flashcards and lecture-based teaching on learning and retention among dental students in periodontitis diagnosis
Public title
Comparison of digital flashcard and lecture teaching on dental students learning
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Expressing readiness and willingness for active participation in the educational process
Having sufficient motivation to participate in the study
Being enrolled as a general dentistry student and currently passing the Periodontics (1) course
Exclusion criteria:
Having prior experience of using digital programs or flashcards to prevent prior exposure bias
Using an auxiliary study method other than standard lecture handouts and PowerPoint slides as a routine method
Age
No age limit
Gender
Both
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size:
50
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
Students are allocated in a 1:1 ratio into two groups of 25 participants each (the digital flashcard intervention group and the traditional lecture control group) using block randomization. To control for confounding variables, baseline characteristics including age, gender, overall GPA, and admission quota type are matched between the two groups.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
•Ethics committee of shahid sadooghi Yazd University of Medical Sciences
Street address
imam reza bulvar,School of Dentistry, University of Medical Sciences, Yazd
City
Yazd
Province
Yazd
Postal code
894815667
Approval date
2026-04-18, 1405/01/29
Ethics committee reference number
IR.SSU.DENTISTRY.REC.1405.013
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Periodontitis (Educational Diagnosis of Periodontal Diseases)
ICD-10 code
ICD-10 code description
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Initial learning score immediately after education in periodontitis diagnosis
Timepoint
Immediately after the educational interventions
Method of measurement
A standard 10-item multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ) designed by an expert panel, scored from 0 to 10
2
Description
One-month long-term retention score in periodontitis diagnosis
Timepoint
Four weeks (one month) after the completion of the educational intervention
Method of measurement
Repetition of the same standard 10-item multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ), scored from 0 to 10
Secondary outcomes
1
Description
Satisfaction level of dental students with the applied teaching method
Timepoint
After the completion of the educational intervention and the initial learning testز
Method of measurement
A 5-item evaluation survey questionnaire based on a 5-point Likert scale (ranging from 1: strongly disagree to 5: strongly agree)
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group: Receiving a software containing 20 interactive flashcards on periodontitis diagnosis, reviewed for 15 minutes daily over 3 days (total 45 minutes).
Category
Behavior
2
Description
Control group: Traditional lecture-based teaching on periodontitis diagnosis through a 45-minute lecture with PowerPoint slides and no supplementary digital content.
Category
Behavior
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
periodontology department , yazd dental school
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Fahimeh Rashidi Meybodi
Street address
imam reza bulvar,School of Dentistry, University of Medical Sciences, Yazd
City
Yazd
Province
Yazd
Postal code
894815667
Phone
+98 35 3625 5880
Email
f-rashidi63@ssu.ac.ir
Web page address
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Yazd University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Mehran Karimi
Street address
Shahid bahonar square
City
Yazd
Province
Yazd
Postal code
8916844933
Phone
+98 35 3725 8413
Email
mehrankarimi@ssu.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Yazd University of Medical Sciences
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Yazd University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Amirhossein Ghaemi Bafghi
Position
Student
Latest degree
A Level or less
Other areas of specialty/work
Dentistry
Street address
imam reza bulvar,School of Dentistry, University of Medical Sciences, Yazd
City
Yazd
Province
Yazd
Postal code
894815667
Phone
+98 35 3625 5881
Email
ah.ghaemi2@gmail.com
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Yazd University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Fahimeh Rashidi Meybodi
Position
Associate professor
Latest degree
Specialist
Other areas of specialty/work
Dentistry
Street address
imam reza bulvar,School of Dentistry, University of Medical Sciences, Yazd
City
Yazd
Province
Yazd
Postal code
894815667
Phone
+98 35 3625 5880
Email
f-rashidi63@ssu.ac.ir
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Yazd University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Amirhossein Ghaemi Bafghi
Position
Student
Latest degree
A Level or less
Other areas of specialty/work
Dentistry
Street address
imam reza bulvar,School of Dentistry, University of Medical Sciences, Yazd
City
Yazd
Province
Yazd
Postal code
894815667
Phone
+98 35 3625 5881
Email
ah.ghaemi2@gmail.com
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Study Protocol
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Data Dictionary
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available