Medical students’ insight about PBL at Alfaisal University, Riyadh
Authors – Affiliation Dr. Bibi Kulsoom MBBS, M.Phil Lecturer of Biochemistry Dr. Nasir Ali Afsar MBBS, M.Phil, Ph.D Senior Lecturer of Pharmacology College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Off Takhassusi Road, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 25-Apr-12SIMEC 20122
Background Problem-based learning (PBL) is a learning strategy that favors contextual, self-directed, constructive learning for future application. 25-Apr-12SIMEC Barrows, S., and Tamblyn, M. (1980). Problem-Based Learning: An Approach to Medical Education. New York: Springer
Background Alfaisal University’s College of Medicine is one of the few institutes in the region which uses PBL as its core strategy in a hybrid, 5-year curriculum for both genders. 25-Apr-12SIMEC Phase-1 Basic Phase-2 Preclinical Phase-3 Clinical
Background – AU Curriculum 25-Apr-12SIMEC Phases 1-3 Semesters 1-10 Course Blocks
Background In our setting – the superiority of PBL over lectures: an ongoing debate. – a certain degree of variation regarding PBL’s perception and acceptance. Hence we conducted this study to know about the insight and reflection about PBL among our medical students in basic, pre- clinical and clinical phases. 25-Apr-12SIMEC 20126
Material & Methods Tool: – A questionnaire consisting of 13 closed-ended questions with “Yes/No/Don’t know” reply options and a single open ended question – Short, once-only, online, force-to-reply survey (alpha 0.8) Interface: E-Learning Management System Subjects: All 320 medical students received the questionnaire link via institutional , followed by subsequent reminders. 25-Apr-12SIMEC 20127
25-Apr-12SIMEC 20128
Distribution of Respondents 25-Apr-12SIMEC n = 83/ 320 = 26%
Distribution of Respondents 25-Apr-12SIMEC
1. PBLs make me a self-directed learner 25-Apr-12SIMEC
2. PBLs enable active learning better than lectures 25-Apr-12SIMEC
3. PBLs were more interesting than lectures 25-Apr-12SIMEC
4. PBLs motivated me to consult multiple resources 25-Apr-12SIMEC
5. As compared to lectures, PBLs help me to simultaneously correlate concepts of different basic science subjects 25-Apr-12SIMEC
7. As compared to lectures, PBLs help me to better correlate basic science concepts with clinical presentation of the patients 25-Apr-12SIMEC
6. Discussion during PBL sessions helps me to clear any confusion in my concepts 25-Apr-12SIMEC
8. The concepts which I carried with me to subsequent semesters were largely those which were obtained through PBL 25-Apr-12SIMEC
9. PBL session participation rather than lectures enabled to learn and perform better in clinics 25-Apr-12SIMEC
10. I found it easier to solve questions in exams, about concepts learnt in PBLs rather than lectures 25-Apr-12SIMEC
11. PBLs motivate me to do research 25-Apr-12SIMEC
12. PBLs have increased my ability to work in a team 25-Apr-12SIMEC
13. PBL-based curriculum will make me a better professional 25-Apr-12SIMEC
14. Give one suggestion to improve PBL at AU 25-Apr-12SIMEC
Conclusions Most of the students perceived that PBL Makes learning active, interesting, self-directed, constructive and reproducible Favors better team work Would groom them professionally. 25-Apr-12SIMEC
Limitations Only ¼ students responded. There were minimal respondents from phase Apr-12SIMEC
Medical students’ insight about PBL at Alfaisal University, Riyadh 25-Apr-12SIMEC Take-Home Message: Students’ insight about PBL is positive regarding professional learning, application and development.