Does online case-based learning foster clinical reasoning skills? A mixed methods study

Blended learning, integrating face-to-face and virtual methods, has become essential in clinical education, enhancing student satisfaction, engagement and knowledge outcomes. Particularly, online case-based learning emerges as a promising pedagogy to foster clinical reasoning skills. Despite the well-documented clinical reasoning cultivation through face-to-face case-based learning, the ability of online case-based learning to cultivate clinical reasoning remains unexplored. This study investigates the role of online case-based learning in fostering clinical reasoning skills among clinical-year medical students.