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Research Article: Bridging the theory-practice gap in laboratory medicine: development and application of a standardized case library for fostering clinical reasoning in postgraduate training

Date Published: 2026-06-24

Abstract:
Case-based learning (CBL) is crucial for developing clinical reasoning in medical education. However, its application in clinical laboratory diagnostics is hindered by the absence of standardized, real-world teaching cases. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive teaching case library and conduct an exploratory evaluation of its potential associations with student outcomes. This study employed a two-phase, quasi-experimental, non-randomized design with a historical control. In the first phase, a standardized case library was constructed using real patient data from a tertiary hospital’s Laboratory and Hospital Information Systems, following principles of systematic coverage and clinical relevance. All 28 cases, spanning six laboratory subspecialties, underwent dual review by laboratory medicine specialists and clinicians. In the second phase, this library was integrated into a structured, closed-loop CBL curriculum. A total of 36 professional master’s degree students in Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics were included. The historical control group ( n = 18, enrolled 2019–2022) received traditional lecture-based teaching, while the CBL group ( n = 18, enrolled 2023–2025) received CBL instruction. The two groups had comparable baseline characteristics, including age, gender distribution, and previous academic performance (all P > 0.05). Teaching effectiveness was assessed through a mixed-methods approach, including comparative analysis of examination scores, classroom participation rates, and thematic analysis of qualitative student feedback. The library comprises 28 peer-reviewed cases. Compared to the historical control group, the CBL group showed higher engagement levels: instructor ratings showed that 66.6% of CBL students achieved “high engagement” (score ? 4 on a 5-point scale) versus 33.3% in the control group; student self-reported mean composite engagement score was 4.5 ± 0.4 in the CBL group compared to 3.2 ± 0.6 in the control group ( P < 0.01), representing a 1.3-point increase. Additionally, the CBL group showed a mean score improvement of 5.8 points on end-of-rotation examinations (95.4 ± 2.9 vs. 89.6 ± 7.5, P = 0.004). Thematic analysis of student feedback revealed that CBL was perceived to reduce cognitive load during the theory-practice transition, enhance professional self-confidence, and foster a stronger sense of professional identity. A systematically constructed and closed-loop implemented case library, integrated with CBL, appears to offer a promising approach for bridging the theory-practice gap and supporting the development of essential clinical competencies. These preliminary, hypothesis-generating findings from a single-center, quasi-experimental study should be interpreted as exploratory rather than confirmatory, and they warrant validation in larger-scale, preferably randomized, investigations. This scalable educational model offers a practical framework for laboratory medicine training and holds potential for improving interprofessional collaboration.

Introduction:
Case-based learning (CBL) is crucial for developing clinical reasoning in medical education. However, its application in clinical laboratory diagnostics is hindered by the absence of standardized, real-world teaching cases. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive teaching case library and conduct an exploratory evaluation of its potential associations with student outcomes.

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