Table 1.

General characteristics of the included studies

Study ID	Study design	Random allocation	Population	Course name	Course type	Number of cases		Study groups		Grade	Outcome, mean ±SD
						Arm 1	Arm 2	Arm 1	Arm 2		Arm 1	Arm 2
Baghaie et al16	Quasi-experimental	Yes	Nursing student	Pathology and hematologic	Theory course	14	15	PBL	LBL	Sophomore	14.66±2.46	13.64±3.17
Koleini et al23	Quasi-experimental	Yes	Medical student	Biology	Theory course	32	32	PBL	LBL	Freshman	14.3±1.7	12.8±1.8
Sadr Lahijani and Raoof22	Descriptive–analytic	No	Dentistry student	Endodontics and musculofascial surgery	Theory course	19	19	PBL	LBL	Senior	16.2±1.6	14.8±1.7
Aein and Nourian15	Quasi-experimental	Yes	Nursing student	Pediatric nursing	Theory course	30	30	PBL	LBL	NA	15.5±1.6	12.6±1.7
Hassanpour Dehkordi and Heydarnejad17	Quasi-experimental	Yes	Nursing student	Internal surgery	Theory course	20	20	PBL	LBL	Sophomore	6.15±2.10	3.64±1.63
Khaki et al19	NA	No	Medical student	Gross anatomy	Theory course	83	76	PBL+LBL	LBL	Freshman	14.32±4.36	12.66±5
Kermaniyan et al18	Quasi-experimental	Yes	Medical student	Anatomy	Theory course	20	20	PBL	LBL	Freshman	10.9±2.6	9.9±1.8
Jafari et al24	Quasi-experimental	Yes	Dentistry student	Community dentistry	Theory course	32	32	PBL	LBL	NA	12.98±1.22	12.36±1.7
Fesharaki et al30	Quasi-experimental	No	Nursing student	Internal surgery 4	Theory course	22	22	PBL	LBL	NA	15.96±2.98	14.72±2.82
Namnabati et al31	Quasi-experimental	No	Nursing student	Pediatrics 2	Theory course	52	50	PBL+LBL	LBL	Sophomore	13.63±2.61	10±2.82
Modanloo et al20	Quasi-experimental	Yes	Nursing student	Mental health	Theory course	8	24	PBL	LBL	Sophomore	4.074±0.318	3.858±0.208
Zarshenas et al29	Interventional	No	Dentistry student	Orthodontia	Theory course	64	64	PBL	LBL	Senior	3.41±0.49	2.9±0.68
Dianati and Adib-Hajbaghery32	Interventional	Yes	Nursing student	Critical care	Theory course	13	14	PBL	LBL	Junior	12.76±2.2	12.21±2.77
Jabbari et al33	Cross-sectional	No	Medical student/dentistry student/pharmacy student	Public health	Theory course	112	54	PBL	LBL	Freshman	16.02±2.03	14.25±1.72
Penjvini and Shahsawari27	Quasi-experimental	Yes	Nursing Student	Newborn nursing care	Laboratory course	14	15	PBL	LBL	Sophomore	8.5±0.51	7.93±0.70
Khatiban and Sangestani26	Quasi-experimental	Yes	Midwifery student	Pregnancy and childbirth	Theory course	34	36	PBL+LBL	LBL	NA	16.21±0.98	15.71±0.92
Assadi25	Cross-sectional	Yes	Occupational health student	Epidemiology	Theory course	22	25	PBL	LBL	NA	18.52±1.03	16.71±1.16
Imanieh et al34	NA	Yes	Medical student	Pediatric gastroenterology ward	Theory course	60	60	PBL	LBL	NA	5.504±0.944	4.24±0.814
Sangestani and Khatiban28	Quasi-experimental	Yes	Nursing Student	Hematologic and oncologic nursing care	Laboratory course	34	36	PBL	LBL	Junior	12.32±1.73	10.12±1.61
Momeni et al36	Quasi-experimental	No	Medical student	Embryology	Theory course	42	40	PBL+LBL	LBL	Freshman	14.83±1.87	14.64±1.56
Farhadi et al37	Interventional	No	Dentistry student	Oral and maxillofacial pathology	Theory course	24	24	PBL	LBL	Junior	9.6±3.164	8.55±2.446

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; PBL, problem-based learning; LBL, lecture-based learning; NA, not applicable.