Objective To explore the effects of a digital platform for clinical laboratory teaching on improving the quality of clinical practice education in medical laboratory technology major.

Methods Using a randomized controlled trial design, 65 students who interned in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from 2022 to 2023 were enrolled. Among them, the control group (n = 32) were given the traditional instruction, while the observation group (n = 33) were given the digital platform-assisted teaching approach. The teaching effects between two groups were analyzed and compared through the quantitative indicators, process evaluation and student feedback evaluation.

Results The scores and total score of the six quantitative assessment indicators of "three basics" knowledge, cell morphology recognition and image analysis, laboratory skills operation, interpretation of test results, clinical thinking assessment and clinical communication skills in the observation group were significantly higher than those in control group (P ＜ 0.05 to P ＜ 0.01). In terms of process evaluation, the scores of the five dimensions of self-initiative in learning, critical thinking ability, teaching participation, teamwork and innovative spirit in the observation group were better than those in control group (P ＜ 0.05 to P ＜ 0.01). The results of feedback evaluation indicated that the satisfaction of the seven aspects of strengthening the connection between theory and practice, improving hands-on ability, highlighting key and difficult points in teaching, cultivating clinical thinking ability, enhancing communication skills, increasing personal job competence and making the teaching process more vivid in the observation group were higher than those in control group (P ＜ 0.05 to P ＜ 0.01).

Conclusions The clinical practice teaching of medical laboratory technology major based on the digital clinical laboratory teaching platform can improve clinical practice teaching effects, and cultivate high-quality medical laboratory technology professionals.