Impact of Concept Mapping in Case-Based Learning Among Medical Students

June 7, 2026 updated by: Ben marzouk Sofiene, University Tunis El Manar

Impact of Concept Mapping and Its Integration Modality in Case-Based Learning on Knowledge Acquisition, Knowledge Retention, and Clinical Reasoning Development Among Third-Year Medical Students: A Prospective Randomized Study

This prospective randomized study aims to compare the impact of three Case-Based Learning (CBL) approaches on knowledge acquisition, knowledge retention, and clinical reasoning development among third-year medical students during their obstetrics and gynecology rotation.

Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups: CBL without concept mapping, CBL with a teacher-constructed concept map, or CBL with a concept map co-constructed by students during the learning session. Knowledge acquisition and retention are assessed using pre-tests, immediate post-tests, and delayed post-tests. Clinical reasoning and knowledge organization are evaluated using a synthesis exercise.

The study seeks to determine whether concept mapping and the modality of its integration into CBL enhance learning outcomes and clinical reasoning skills in undergraduate medical education.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Case-Based Learning (CBL) is a learner-centered educational approach that promotes active learning and clinical reasoning through the discussion of authentic clinical cases. Concept maps are educational tools that help learners organize, integrate, and connect knowledge.

This prospective randomized study was conducted among third-year medical students during their obstetrics and gynecology rotation at the Maternity and Neonatology Center of Tunis. Eligible students who had reviewed the official preeclampsia learning module were randomly allocated to one of three educational interventions:

  1. Case-Based Learning without concept mapping.
  2. Case-Based Learning with a concept map designed by the instructor and presented at the end of the session.
  3. Case-Based Learning with a concept map progressively developed by students under instructor supervision.

All groups were exposed to the same clinical case, learning objectives, instructor, and teaching duration. Learning outcomes were assessed using a pre-test, an immediate post-test, a delayed post-test administered two weeks later, and a synthesis exercise evaluating knowledge organization and clinical reasoning.

The primary outcome is the effect of concept mapping and its integration modality on clinical reasoning and knowledge organization, assessed through the synthesis exercise score. Secondary outcomes include knowledge acquisition and knowledge retention assessed through test scores and score variations over time.

The findings of this study may contribute to identifying effective educational strategies for improving learning and clinical reasoning in undergraduate medical education.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

26

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Tunisia
      • Tunis, Tunisia
        • Maternity and Neonatology Center of Tunis

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Third-year medical students enrolled in the Obstetrics and Gynecology rotation.
  • Completion of the preeclampsia learning module before the educational session.
  • Provision of informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Refusal to participate.
  • Failure to complete the pre-test, post-test, synthesis assessment, or delayed -post-test.
  • Absence from the educational session.
  • Incomplete study data.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: CBL Without Concept Mapping
Participants receive a Case-Based Learning session without the use of concept mapping.
Behavioral: Case-Based Learning Without Concept Mapping
Participants receive a Case-Based Learning session without the use of concept mapping.
Experimental: CBL With Teacher-Constructed Concept Map
Participants receive a Case-Based Learning session supplemented by a concept map prepared and presented by the instructor.
Behavioral: Teacher-Constructed Concept Mapping
Participants receive a Case-Based Learning session supplemented by a concept map designed and presented by the instructor.
Experimental: CBL With Student Co-Constructed Concept Map
Participants receive a Case-Based Learning session supplemented by a concept map progressively developed by students under instructor supervision.
Behavioral: Student Co-Constructed Concept Mapping
Participants receive a Case-Based Learning session supplemented by a concept map progressively developed by students under instructor supervision.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Clinical Reasoning Score
Time Frame: Immediately after completion of the Case-Based Learning session
Assessment of knowledge organization and clinical reasoning development using the synthesis question score (NQS)
Immediately after completion of the Case-Based Learning session

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Knowledge Acquisition Score
Time Frame: Immediately after completion of the learning session
Difference between immediate post-test and pre-test scores (Δ1 = N2 - N1).
Immediately after completion of the learning session
Knowledge Retention Score
Time Frame: Two weeks after completion of the learning session
Delayed post-test score and score variation between delayed and immediate post-tests (Δ2 = N3 - N2).
Two weeks after completion of the learning session

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University Tunis El Manar

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 31, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

March 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 7, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 7, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 11, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 7, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • CBL/2026

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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