Application of a Responsive Web-Based Sinus CT Scan Interpretation Training System in Clinical Education

Application of a Responsive Web-Based Sinus CT Scan Interpretation Training System in Clinical Education: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial

The complex anatomy of the paranasal sinuses and skull base presents a steep learning curve for junior clinicians in otolaryngology. This prospective, randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel, responsive web-based sinus CT scan interpretation training system compared to traditional educational methods. The study will enroll 36 medical trainees and junior resident physicians with no prior specialized training in otolaryngology imaging.

Following a standardized baseline video lecture, participants will be randomized (1:1) into two groups for a one-week rotation period. The intervention group will utilize an interactive, cross-platform web system featuring multi-planar correlations, the CLOSE mnemonic guided reading, and case-based self-assessments. The control group will study using standard digitized text-and-image guidelines and clinical consensus documents. The primary outcome is the objective CT interpretation score, which evaluates the accuracy of identifying anatomical variations and pathological grading (e.g., Lund-Mackay score, osteitis grading) across 10 anonymized clinical cases. Secondary outcomes include interpretation time, diagnostic confidence, and system usability. The findings of this study will provide valuable evidence on whether interactive digital tools can effectively accelerate the learning curve and improve diagnostic accuracy in specialized medical imaging education.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Education; Diagnostic Imaging; Anatomy; Otolaryngology
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Web-Based Interactive Group; Other: Traditional Teaching Group

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Medical students currently in their clinical clerkship or internship phase, or junior physicians currently undergoing standardized residency training;
• No prior systematic training in specialized otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (ORL-HNS) imaging;
• Voluntary participation in the study with a signed informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to access a basic smartphone or computer required for the digital training system;
• Anticipated inability to complete the intervention, and assessment period (e.g., due to planned prolonged leave of absence).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Web-Based Interactive Training Group; Web-Based Interactive Training	Other: Web-Based Interactive Group; Following the exact same standardized baseline lecture video on sinus anatomy, participants will receive a digitized traditional teaching material package for self-directed learning over a 1-week rotation period. This standard educational package includes detailed text-and-image handouts on sinus anatomy and static CT evaluation criteria derived from the official clinical expert consensus guidelines.
Active Comparator: Traditional Multimedia Learning Group; Traditional Multimedia Learning	Other: Traditional Teaching Group; In addition to watching the baseline video, participants will receive a standard digitized traditional teaching material package (including detailed text-and-image handouts on sinus anatomy and the CT evaluation standard documents from the "Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis"). Participants are required to complete self-directed reinforcement learning using these materials within the same period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Objective CT interpretation test score	The objective CT interpretation test includes 10 anonymized clinical CT sequences. Participants must independently identify anatomical variations (e.g., Onodi cells, Haller cells, ostiomeatal complex) and complete the Lund-Mackay staging and osteitis grading. The total test score ranges from 0 to 100 points. A higher score indicates higher diagnostic accuracy and better performance in CT interpretation.	at Day 7

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 15, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 2, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 7, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 7, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 2, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: nasalCTscanteaching

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared publicly. Due to the specific nature of the study population (a small cohort of clinical rotators in a single department) and the relatively small sample size, sharing raw IPD poses a significant risk of indirect re-identification. Furthermore, the informed consent obtained from the participants strictly limits data access to the immediate research team to protect their academic and professional privacy. Aggregate data and statistical analyses will be reported in published manuscripts.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No