Trial reportBMC medical education2011
A comparison of online versus on-site training in health research methodology: a randomized study.
Trial report in BMC medical education, 2011. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 32 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
32 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Mechanisms to build research capacity in the rural health workplace: a realist synthesis.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Pooled it
- Virtual Health Research Capacity Strengthening in Low- and Middle‑Income Countries: A Systematic Integrative Review.Annals of global health · 2025Pooled it
- Interventions to prevent misconduct and promote integrity in research and publication.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016Pooled it
- Building research capacity in Botswana: a randomized trial comparing training methodologies in the Botswana ethics training initiative.BMC medical education · 2013Trial
- Building Health Equity Research Capacity in Myanmar Through a Virtual, Mentor-Based Training Program.Annals of global health · 2026Article
- Interventions to promote medical research integrity: a scoping review.BMC medical ethics · 2025Article
- Impact of online expert interview-based research training on medical trainees' knowledge and confidence: a mixed-methods design.International journal of emergency medicine · 2024Article
- Virtual faculty development program in bioethics evaluated by Kirkpatrick model: A unique opportunity.PloS one · 2023Article
- Online re-examination of postgraduate medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.BMC medical education · 2022Article
- Online Participation in a Pharmacy Residency Research Certificate Program.Hospital pharmacy · 2021Article
- Learning How to Order Imaging Tests and Make Subsequent Clinical Decisions: a Randomized Study of the Effectiveness of a Virtual Learning Environment for Medical Students.Medical science educator · 2021Article
- Online Medical Education in India - Different Challenges and Probable Solutions in the Age of COVID-19.Advances in medical education and practice · 2021Review
- Assessing training needs in health research ethics: a case study from the University of Zambia School of Medicine.Global bioethics = Problemi di bioetica · 2020Article
- Knowledge of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among dental surgeons of Nepal: a nationwide study.BMC infectious diseases · 2020Article
- Evaluating Training Need for Epidemic Control in Three Metropolitans: Implications for COVID-19 Preparedness in Vietnam.Frontiers in public health · 2020Article
- The University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Training Program in Implementation Science: Program Experiences and Outcomes.Frontiers in public health · 2020Article
- Teaching Vulnerability in Research: A Study of Approaches Utilized by a Sample of Research Ethics Training Programs.Journal of empirical research on human research ethics : JERHRE · 2019Article
- The features and qualities of online training modules in research ethics: a case study evaluating their institutional application for the University of Botswana.Global bioethics = Problemi di bioetica · 2019Article
- Strengthening stakeholder engagement through ethics review in biomedical HIV prevention trials: opportunities and complexities.Journal of the International AIDS Society · 2018Review
- Comparison of Live Versus Online Instruction of a Novel Soft Skills Course in Mongolia.Cureus · 2017Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDistance learning may be useful for building health research capacity. However, evidence that it can improve knowledge and skills in health research, particularly in resource-poor settings, is limited. We compared the impact and acceptability of teaching two distinct content areas, Biostatistics and Research Ethics, through either on-line distance learning format or traditional on-site training, in a randomized study in India. Our objective was to determine whether on-line courses in Biostatistics and Research Ethics could achieve similar improvements in knowledge, as traditional on-site, classroom-based courses.
methodsSUBJECTS: Volunteer Indian scientists were randomly assigned to one of two arms.
interventionStudents in Arm 1 attended a 3.5-day on-site course in Biostatistics and completed a 3.5-week on-line course in Research Ethics. Students in Arm 2 attended a 3.5-week on-line course in Biostatistics and 3.5-day on-site course in Research Ethics. For the two course formats, learning objectives, course contents and knowledge tests were identical.
main outcome measuresImprovement in knowledge immediately and 3-months after course completion, compared to baseline.
resultsBaseline characteristics were similar in both arms (n = 29 each). Median knowledge score for Biostatistics increased from a baseline of 49% to 64% (p < 0.001) 3 months after the on-site course, and from 48% to 63% (p = 0.009) after the on-line course. For the on-site Research Ethics course, median score increased from 69% to 83% (p = 0.005), and for the on-line Research Ethics course from 62% to 80% (p < 0.001). Three months after the course, median gains in knowledge scores remained similar for the on-site and on-line platforms for both Biostatistics (16% vs. 12%; p = 0.59) and Research Ethics (17% vs. 13%; p = 0.14).
conclusionOn-line and on-site training formats led to marked and similar improvements of knowledge in Biostatistics and Research Ethics. This, combined with logistical and cost advantages of on-line training, may make on-line courses particularly useful for expanding health research capacity in resource-limited settings.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.