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. 2015 Feb 11;32(1):Doc10.
doi: 10.3205/zma000952. eCollection 2015.

"Peer-assisted learning" (PAL) in the Skills-Lab--an inventory at the medical faculties of the Federal Republic of Germany

M Blohm  1 , J Lauter  1 , S Branchereau  1 , M Krautter  1 , N Köhl-Hackert  2 , J Jünger  1 , W Herzog  1 , C Nikendei  1
Affiliations

"Peer-assisted learning" (PAL) in the Skills-Lab--an inventory at the medical faculties of the Federal Republic of Germany

M Blohm et al. GMS Z Med Ausbild. .

Abstract
in English, German

Background: Over multiple years, the didactic concept of "peer-assisted learning" (PAL) has proved to be valuable for medical education. Particularly in the field of the nowadays widely established Skills-Labs, the assignment of student tutors is both popular and effective. The aim of the underlying study is to assess the current status of PAL programs within German medical faculties' Skills-Labs regarding their distribution, extent, structure and content based on a nation-wide survey.

Methods: All 36 medical faculties in Germany were contacted and asked for their participation (via telephone or in written form) in the survey encompassing 16 central questions as to the structure of established PAL programs. Data obtained were subject to quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Results: 35 of 36 (97.2%) medical faculties participated in the survey. A PAL program was shown to be established at 33 (91.7%) faculties. However, the results show distinct differences between different faculties with respect to extent and content of the PAL programs.

Conclusions: Among German medical Skills-Labs, PAL has been established almost ubiquitously. Further studies on the conception and standardization of training concepts appear to be pivotal for the advancement of PAL in the context of Skills-Labs.

Hintergrund: Das didaktische Konzept des „Peer-assisted learning“ (PAL) hat sich seit vielen Jahren in der medizinischen Ausbildung als wertvoll erwiesen. Insbesondere im Bereich der inzwischen weit verbreiteten Skills-Labs ist der Einsatz studentischer Tutoren gleichermaßen beliebt wie effektiv. Ziel des vorliegenden Artikels ist, auf Basis einer bundesweiten Befragung den aktuellen Stand über Verbreitung, Umfang und inhaltliche wie strukturelle Ausgestaltung der PAL-Programme in den Skills-Labs der deutschen Medizinischen Fakultäten zu erfassen.Methoden: Sämtliche 36 bundesdeutsche Medizinische Fakultäten wurden kontaktiert und um Teilnahme an der 16 Leitfragen umfassenden Befragung zur Struktur von bestehenden PAL-Programmen im Skills-Lab-Bereich auf telefonischem oder schriftlichem Wege gebeten. Die erhaltenen Daten wurden quantitativ und qualitativ ausgewertet.Ergebnisse: 35 von 36 (97,2%) medizinischen Fakultäten nahmen an der Befragung teil. Ein PAL-Programm existiert an 33 (91,7%) Standorten. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass hinsichtlich Umfang und Inhalten jedoch große Unterschiede zwischen den Fakultäten bestehen. Schlussfolgerungen: PAL ist an bundesdeutschen medizinischen Skills-Labs nahezu flächendeckend umgesetzt. Weitere Untersuchungen zur Konzeption und Standardisierung von Schulungskonzepten scheinen zentral für die Weiterentwicklung von PAL im Skills-Lab.

Keywords: Skills-Lab; medical education; peer-assisted learning; practical clinical skills; simulation; tutors.

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Figures

Table 1
Table 1. Size and characteristics of PAL programs in the Skills-Lab area; Specifying absolute numbers (n) and percentages (%); in square brackets number of faculties which provided information for the particular aspect with respect to faculties with PAL programs in the Skills-Lab area (n=33)
Table 2
Table 2. Administrative framework of the PAL program in the Skills-Lab area; Specifying absolute numbers (n) and percentages (%); in square brackets number of faculties which provided information for the particular aspect with respect to faculties with PAL programs in the Skills-Lab area (n=33)
Table 3
Table 3. Mediated curricula as part of the PAL program in the Skills-Lab; Specifying absolute numbers (n) and percentages (%); in square brackets number of faculties which provided information for the particular aspect with respect to faculties with PAL programs in the Skills-Lab area (n=33)
Table 4
Table 4. Tutors trainings; Specifying absolute numbers (n) and percentages (%); in square brackets number of faculties which provided information for the particular aspect with respect to faculties with PAL programs in the Skills-Lab area (n=33)
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