Peer-assisted learning: a novel approach to clinical skills learning for medical students

2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 411-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max Field ◽  
Joanne M Burke ◽  
David McAllister ◽  
David M Lloyd
Author(s):  
Wajiha Shadab ◽  
Amna Ahmed Noor ◽  
Saira Waqqar ◽  
Gul Muhammad Shaikh

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to assess the medical students’ opinions and views on undertaking SLICE as a formative assessment. Methods: This was a qualitative, exploratory study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select final year medical students who have undertaken a formative assessment through SLICE in their clerkship rotation. Total 32 students participated in this study .Four sets of focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted from medical students who had recently gone through their clinical clerkship modules for Pediatrics, General Medicine, General Surgery and Gynecology& Obstetrics. Each recorded FGD was transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted manually. Themes were identified from the transcribed data, coded and analyzed. In order to achieve adequate coding and researcher reliability, investigator triangulation was performed. The initial thematic analysis was performed by the primary investigator. Thereafter, two more investigators independently analyzed the data. Before the data was finalized, all the three investigators reached a final consensus upon the themes that had emerged, ensuring triangulation of the analyzed data. Results: A four staged thematic analysis was conducted, in which five major themes and five sub-themes emerged. The main themes being: Purpose, Learning, Timing, Relevancy and Fairness of SLICE. Conclusion: The students generally thought that SLICE was effective in enhancing their clinical skills learning and should be conducted more frequently with minor adjustments. Continuous...


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumera Nisar ◽  
Usman Mahboob ◽  
Rehan Ahmed Khan ◽  
Durraiz Rehman

Abstract Background In recent days when mankind is passing through the difficult times of COVID-19 pandemic with lock down, almost all over the world, online communication has taken over the world. Overburdened physicians in this pandemic cannot get enough time to teach clinical skills online to the students. Also, due to student’s safety issues, the students cannot attend the clinics. Therefore, in this scenario online PAL sessions for clinical skill teaching and learning can be an effective alternative for undergraduate medical students. The academic limitations caused by the COVID-19 related lockdown however can have a pleasurable outcome if certain challenges, related to online PAL, are overcome. Therefore, the present study aims to identify the challenges of Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) sessions during online clinical skills training in Ophthalmology module of undergraduate medical students.MethodologyThis qualitative exploratory study, utilizing online focus group discussions to explore the challenges of online PAL in training and learning of clinical skills was carried at Ophthalmology department of Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah; Saudi Arabia. Ethical approval was taken from the college and purposive convenient sampling technique was used to collect data. Data was transcribed and analyzed by using thematic analysisResultsThe study identified six themes for argument and classified into further smaller subthemes. The subthemes derived from the collected data were organized under major themes; infrastructure, learning environment, psychological problems, interaction deficit, learning desires and desire for feedback on performance. In our study, major challenge faced by the medical student during online PAL sessions was infrastructure in terms of network connection, scheduling, timing of the session which overpowered by other challenges of online PAL. Unprofessional learning environment, psychological problems in terms of behavioral issues and personality changes, interaction deficit with peers, tutor and patient, learning desires and desire for feedback on performance were the other important challenges faced by the students. ConclusionThe challenges explored by our study can be used by the medical educators to incorporate online PAL as an effective, efficient and alternative teaching and learning modality in the curriculum especially in compromised circumstances like current COVID-19 pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurul Haizum FarahDiyana Latjatih ◽  
Nurhanis Syazni Roslan ◽  
Puteri Shanaz Jahn Kassim ◽  
Siti Khadijah Adam

PurposePeer-assisted learning (PAL) in formative objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is an approach used to evaluate the students' clinical competence. This study aims to determine the PAL effectiveness in the formative OSCE in improving clinical competencies and the students' perception and satisfaction of PAL.Design/methodology/approachSixty-seven Year 2 medical students experienced PAL in a formative OSCE setting. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to evaluate their perception and satisfaction on PAL. The effectiveness of the sessions was determined by comparing their OSCE scores between the pre- and post-intervention.FindingsForty-three students completed the intervention and had the experience to assess their peers as well as being assessed during formative OSCE. However, only 26 students managed to attend both pre- and post-intervention OSCE. It was found that there was a significant improvement of OSCE score after the PAL sessions. Over 97% of these students perceived positively and were satisfied with the sessions and thought that formative OSCE gave an opportunity to improve their learning and develop self-confidence in clinical skills.Originality/valueThe findings suggested that PAL in the formative OSCE is a good opportunity to help in students' learning and improve their clinical competencies apart from learning with experts.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Cheryl Snyder ◽  
Rose Chisenga

Background: Many benefits of pre-clinical medical skills training have been documented in more technologically advanced nations, and in the past decade, these courses have been introduced to developing countries. Curriculum that can prepare and build confidence in medical students must be cost effective, evidence-based and culturally sensitive in places where there are severe resource limitations.  In 2013, an initial pre-clinical skills course without assessments was introduced to medical students in Zambia. Later that year, a more developed course was launched to a second cohort integrating Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) and assessments. These trainers were prepared in advance with instruction in standardized skills, learning theory, effective feedback techniques and use of rubrics to insure good inter-rater reliability in teaching and assessments. Methods: A quantitative study surveyed 108 students utilizing convenience sampling and a written questionnaire. Data collected compared preparedness and confidence in performing clinical skills of the intervention cohorts with the control group (medical students who preceded pre-clinical skills training). Results: Preparedness responses increased from 36.1% of the students in the control group to 90.9% in the intervention group who had been exposed to the PAL course with assessments (p value <0.001). Student confidence levels in history taking, physical exam skills, procedures and the application of critical thinking skills diagnostically also showed improvement from 11.5-29.5% range in the control group to 77.3-86.4% range in the PAL cohort (p value <0.001).Conclusions: Exposure to pre-clinical training program especially utilizing PAL with assessments had a positive impact on the sense of preparedness and confidence levels for medical students beginning their clinical training years at the University of Zambia. Integration of PAL influenced academic development, clinical procedural standardization, appropriate curriculum additions, transitional support and program sustainability. PAL may have beneficial application extending to basic science lab instruction in resource limited environments. Recommendation for future research would be integration of qualitative triangulation and reduction of variables in confidence data reporting.


Author(s):  
Oktadoni Saputra ◽  
Widyandana Widyandana ◽  
Tridjoko Hadianto

Background: Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) has been widely used in medical education. Training From Senior Student (TFSS) is a PAL-scheme program in Skills-Lab FM GMU which one of its aim is to facilitate students to master their cinical skills. However, failure rate in OSCE is still high. This research conducted to explore students’, assistants’ and faculty’s perceptions on the benefits of TFSS in students’ clinical skills acquisition.Method: This study used exploratory focus group discussion (FGD) and in-depth interview with respondents, which were chosen purposively. The data were then transcribed and analysed for themes using deductive content analysis.Results: Thirty-six respondents joined the study (13 medical students; 17 assitants; 6 faculty staffs). The respondents’ perceptions were categorized in 3 aspects: cognitive aspects, social aspects, and organizational aspects of clinical skills learning. As a whole, the view of each respondent was not much differents. TFSS enhanced cognitive and social aspects of both students’ and assistants’ learning, but it didn’t provide the optimal opportunity to practice their skills. Various related problems in organizing were also found.Conclusion: TFSS provided positive benefits on both cognitive and social aspects of clinical skills learning, but not for the opportunity to practice the skills. Improvements need to be done to enhance the quality and quantity of skills training.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumera Nisar ◽  
Usman Mahboob ◽  
Rehan Ahmed Khan ◽  
Durraiz Rehman

Abstract Background Online communication has taken over in the last 2 years due to the frequent lockdowns because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overburdened physicians in this pandemic are struggling to get enough time to teach clinical skills online to the students. Also, due to student’s safety issues, the students cannot fully attend the clinics. Therefore, in this scenario, online PAL (Peer Assisted Learning) sessions for clinical skill teaching and learning can be an effective alternative for undergraduate medical students. The academic limitations caused by the COVID-19 related lockdown however can have a pleasurable outcome if certain challenges, related to online PAL, are overcome. Therefore, the present study aims to identify the challenges of Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) sessions during online clinical skills training in the Ophthalmology module of undergraduate medical students. Methods This qualitative exploratory study, utilizing online focus group discussions to explore the challenges of online PAL in training and learning of clinical skills were carried at the Ophthalmology department of Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah; Saudi Arabia. A purposive convenient sampling technique was used to collect data. Data were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results The study identified six themes that were further divided into smaller subthemes. The subthemes derived from the collected data were organized under the following major themes; infrastructure, learning environment, psychological problems, interaction deficit, learning desires, and desire for feedback on performance. The major challenge reported by the medical student during online PAL sessions was infrastructure in terms of network connection, scheduling, and timing of the session. The unprofessional learning environment, psychological problems in terms of behavioral issues and personality changes, interaction deficit with peers, tutor, and patient, learning desires, and desire for feedback on performance were the other important challenges faced by the students. Conclusion The challenges explored by our study can be used by the medical educators to incorporate online PAL as an effective, efficient, and alternative teaching and learning modality in the curriculum especially in compromised circumstances like the current COVID-19 pandemic.


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