Perceptions On Reciprocal Peer Teaching Among Medical Students As Learners And As Tutors

Figures & data

Table 1 Response Rates Based On Year Of Study

Levels	n	Respondents	% Of n	Cumulative %
4th year medical students	180	129	71.6%	50.0%
5th year medical students	110	94	85.5%	86.4%
Medical interns	120	35	29.2%	100.0%

Notes: Year 4 students were 140 males and 40 females, of which 37 responded. All other years are comprised solely of male students. Medical interns are effectively 6th year students and do not participate in peer teaching.

Abbreviation: n, total number of students at that year.

Table 2 Learners’ General Perceptions Of Peer-teaching

Question		SD		D		N		A		SA
		n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
1	Peer tutoring is the most effective method of clinical teaching^a	20	7.8	58	22.5	91	35.3	67	26.0	22	8.5
2	I prefer being taught by peer tutors compared to faculty teachers	27	10.5	60	23.3	85	32.9	65	25.2	21	8.1
3	I am more willing to engage in sessions taught by peer tutors compared to faculty teachers	20	7.8	56	21.7	92	35.7	69	26.7	21	8.1
4	I learn at least as well when taught by peer teachers compared to faculty	24	9.3	61	23.6	84	32.6	64	24.8	25	9.7
5	I feel more confident learning from peer tutors compared to faculty teachers	27	10.5	63	24.4	81	31.4	61	23.6	26	10.1
6	I am satisfied with the peer-tutored clinical teaching that I received in internal medicine	21	8.1	59	22.9	93	33.7	69	20.9	16	7.0
7	The peer-tutored teaching which I received in internal medicine is enough to prepare me for my clinical year exams.	40	15.5	59	22.9	87	33.7	54	20.9	18	7
8	I spent more time out of the classroom reading on what I learnt during a peer-led seminar than I did after other faculty-led teaching activities – put 1 for less time, 3 for equal time and 5 for more time	27	10.5	51	19.8	93	36.0	46	17.8	41	15.9

Note: ^aFemale students agreed less than males in these questions.

Abbreviations: SD, strongly disagree; D, disagree; N, neither agree or disagree; A, agree; SA, strongly agree; n, number; %, percentage of row totals.

Table 3 Learner’s Perceptions Of Peer-Tutors And Organizational Support

Question		SD		D		N		A		SA
		n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
	Tutors Knowledge
9	The tutors’ knowledge was appropriate for the required level of teaching	13	5.0	43	16.7	101	39.1	77	29.8	24	9.3
10	They provided appropriate information and resources that targeted my needs^a,b	13	5.0	47	18.2	93	36.0	79	30.6	26	10.1
11	The tutors addressed learning objectives relevant to the exam^b	24	9.3	53	20.5	87	33.7	71	27.5	23	8.9
	Tutors Skills
12	The tutors employed effective teaching strategies during the seminars^a,b	16	6.2	50	19.4	97	37.6	76	29.5	19	7.4
13	The tutors were able to explain concepts and answer questions that were clinically relevant^a,b	9	3.5	52	20.2	96	37.2	67	26.0	34	13.2
	Tutors Attitudes
14	Tutors were approachable and happy to answer questionsa	13	5.0	45	17.4	80	31.0	83	32.2	37	14.3
15	Tutors created a welcoming learning environment^a,b	14	5.4	46	17.8	79	30.6	78	30.2	41	15.9
	Organizational Support
16	The seminar rooms were appropriate for the activity	13	5.0	49	19.0	82	31.8	73	28.3	41	15.9
17	The timing of the seminars was appropriate	11	4.3	47	18.2	91	35.3	71	27.5	38	14.7
18	We should have more peer-led seminars	29	11.2	45	17.4	97	37.6	59	22.9	28	10.9
19	There was not enough time during a seminar to cover all the objectives	18	7.0	48	18.6	96	37.2	68	26.4	28	10.9

Notes: ^aFemale students agreed less compared to males, and ^bMedical interns more likely to agree than other students.

Abbreviations: SD, strongly disagree; D, disagree; N, neither agree or disagree; A, agree; SA, strongly agree; n, number; %, percentage of row totals.

Table 4 Peer-Tutors’ Perceptions

Question		SD		D		N		A		SA
		n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
	Own Knowledge
20	I had the opportunity to consolidate my own knowledge.	4	1.6	14	5.4	69	26.7	123	47.7	48	18.6
21	Being a clinical peer tutor has increased my confidence in my own exam performance^a	2	0.8	19	7.4	62	24	107	41.5	68	26.4
	Own Skills
22	Being a clinical peer tutor has increased my confidence in my tutoring and presentation skills	4	1.6	14	5.4	53	20.5	114	44.2	73	28.3
23	I have a better understanding of teamwork and understanding roles within the team^a	6	2.3	22	8.5	51	19.8	104	40.3	75	29.1
24	My communication skills with my colleagues has improved^a	5	1.9	17	6.6	49	19	109	42.2	78	30.2
25	I can collaborate better with my colleagues^a	5	1.9	14	5.4	53	20.5	106	41.1	80	31
26	Teaching is a very hard skill and I felt myself getting better each time^a	2	0.8	13	5	55	21.3	115	44.6	73	28.3
	Own Attitudes
27	I am a better role model to my peers^a	6	2.3	20	7.8	82	31.8	90	34.9	60	23.3
28	I gained many benefits from this experience and I am willing to repeat it^a	7	2.7	12	4.7	71	27.5	99	38.4	69	26.7
34	I have developed both personally and professionally	4	1.6	17	6.6	47	18.2	112	43.4	78	30.2
35	Being a clinical skills peer tutor has made me consider pursuing teaching in the future^a	13	5	27	10.5	70	27.1	83	32.2	65	25.2
	Organizational Support
29	The seminar rooms were appropriate for the activity^a	9	3.5	24	9.3	80	31	89	34.5	56	21.7
30	The timing of the seminars was appropriate^a	10	3.9	29	11.2	79	30.6	84	32.6	56	21.7
31	We should have more peer-led seminars^a	15	5.8	36	14	66	25.6	88	34.1	53	20.5
32	There was not enough time during a seminar to cover all the objectives^a	15	5.8	39	15.1	68	26.4	94	36.4	42	16.3
33	The objectives and content to cover in the seminar were clearly and sufficiently detailed^a	7	2.7	30	11.6	74	28.7	97	37.6	50	19.4
36	I think the students benefited from this teaching experience^a	7	2.7	20	7.8	64	24.8	103	39.9	64	34.8
37	The available infrastructure teaching rooms, learning material was appropriate^a,b	10	3.9	33	12.8	57	22.1	104	40.3	54	20.9
38	I had support from faculty or other peers^a	15	5.8	31	12	56	21.7	97	37.6	59	22.9
39	Overall, I feel I was adequately prepared for this role^a,b	6	2.3	27	10.5	64	24.8	91	35.3	70	27.1

Note: ^aFemale students agreed more compared to males, and ^b5th year students less likely to agree than other students.

Abbreviations: SD, strongly disagree; D, disagree; N, neither agree or disagree; A, agree; SA, strongly agree; n, number; %, percentage of row totals.

Table 5 Perceptions According To Gender

Question	Group	N	Mean	Median	SD	SE	P
Learners’ Perceptions
Peer tutoring is the most effective method of clinical teaching	Female	37	2.76	3	0.76	0.125	0.045
	Male	221	3.1	3	1.103	0.0742
They provided appropriate information and resources that targeted my needs	Female	37	2.89	3	0.774	0.127	0.014
	Male	221	3.28	3	1.05	0.0706
The tutors employed effective teaching strategies during the seminars	Female	37	2.78	3	0.75	0.123	0.012
	Male	221	3.18	3	1.037	0.0698
The tutors were able to explain concepts and answer questions that were clinically relevant	Female	37	2.92	3	0.795	0.131	0.027
	Male	221	3.31	3	1.06	0.0713
Tutors were approachable and happy to answer questions	Female	37	2.81	3	0.845	0.139	<0.001
	Male	221	3.42	4	1.091	0.0734
Tutors created a welcoming learning environment	Female	37	2.97	3	0.928	0.152	0.019
	Male	221	3.39	3	1.126	0.0757
Tutors’ Perceptions
Being a peer tutor has increased my confidence in my own exam performance	Female	37	4.16	4	0.688	0.113	0.03
	Male	221	3.8	4	0.947	0.0637
I have a better understanding of teamwork and understanding roles within the team	Female	37	4.24	4	0.796	0.131	0.009
	Male	221	3.79	4	1.029	0.0692
My communication skills with my colleagues has improved	Female	37	4.22	4	0.787	0.129	0.042
	Male	221	3.87	4	0.983	0.0661
I can collaborate better with my colleagues	Female	37	4.24	4	0.796	0.131	0.028
	Male	221	3.89	4	0.968	0.0651
Teaching is a very hard skill and I felt myself getting better each time	Female	37	4.22	4	0.75	0.123	0.042
	Male	221	3.9	4	0.889	0.0598
I am a better role model to my peers	Female	37	4.08	4	0.954	0.157	0.003
	Male	221	3.62	4	0.981	0.066
I gained many benefits from this experience and I am willing to repeat it	Female	37	4.11	4	0.809	0.133	0.036
	Male	221	3.77	4	0.989	0.0665
Being a clinical skills peer tutor has made me consider pursuing teaching in the future	Female	37	4.11	4	0.906	0.149	0.003
	Male	221	3.54	4	1.134	0.0763
The seminar rooms were appropriate for the activity	Female	37	4.24	4	0.796	0.131	<0.001
	Male	221	3.51	4	1.034	0.0696
The timing of the seminars was appropriate	Female	37	4.14	4	0.751	0.124	<0.001
	Male	221	3.48	3	1.085	0.073
We should have more peer-led seminars	Female	37	4.19	4	0.908	0.149	<0.001
	Male	221	3.38	3	1.132	0.0762
There was not enough time during a seminar to cover all the objectives	Female	37	4.19	4	0.739	0.122	<0.001
	Male	221	3.29	3	1.108	0.0745
The objectives and content to cover in the seminar were clearly and sufficiently detailed	Female	37	4.19	4	0.845	0.139	<0.001
	Male	221	3.49	4	1.007	0.0678
I think the students benefited from this teaching experience	Female	37	4.19	4	0.845	0.139	0.003
	Male	221	3.69	4	1.007	0.0677
The available infrastructure teaching rooms, learning material was appropriate	Female	37	4.16	4	0.688	0.113	<0.001
	Male	221	3.52	4	1.098	0.0738
I had support from faculty or other peers	Female	37	4.05	4	1.053	0.173	0.003
	Male	221	3.52	4	1.134	0.0763
Overall, I feel I was adequately prepared for this role	Female	37	4.14	4	0.976	0.161	0.007
	Male	221	3.68	4	1.041	0.07

Figure 1 Responses to sample questions about the program and the tutors.

Figure 2 Responses to sample questions from a tutor perspective.