Comparison of the effect of two teaching methods on surgical technologist students’ learning and satisfaction (flashcards vs. mobile‑based learning)

M‑learning is “learning across multiple contexts, through social and content interactions, using simple hand‑held technologies, wireless and mobile network. This personal electronic device is a way to facilitate the transfer of learning and improve teaching. Hence, the researchers decided to design a mobile‑based learning application to teach surgical instruments comprehensively and compare students’ learning and satisfaction in both mobile‑based learning and flashcards methods.

An interventional study was conducted on surgical technologist students in Alborz University of medical science (2019). Students were divided into two groups: flashcards (n = 21) and mobile application learning group (n = 21). The difference of pre‑ and post‑test scores was considered for the evaluation of learning level in two groups. Data were entered into SPSS 20.0 software and analyzed by statistics tests.Data were analyzed by a paired t‑test, independent t‑test, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

There was no significant difference in students’ knowledge level between two groups before intervention ( P = 0.87) but there was significant difference between groups after the intervention (P = 0.003). In the evaluation of student’s satisfaction, the mobile application was preferred by 84.28% of students.

Given the effectiveness of using both methods (flashcards and mobile application), it is recommended that these methods especially mobile application be used for surgical instruments education.