An integrated literature review of undergraduate peer teaching in allied health professions

Background. The concept of peer-assisted teaching or peer-assisted learning (PAL) has been receiving more attention in the teaching of medical and alliedhealth students. Many advantages have been described in the literature, but much more research is needed. Challenges with the academic platform at...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: S van Vuuren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: South African Medical Association 2017-03-01
Series:African Journal of Health Professions Education
Online Access:http://www.ajhpe.org.za/index.php/ajhpe/article/download/588/444
_version_ 1827392132661379072
author S van Vuuren
author_facet S van Vuuren
author_sort S van Vuuren
collection DOAJ
description Background. The concept of peer-assisted teaching or peer-assisted learning (PAL) has been receiving more attention in the teaching of medical and alliedhealth students. Many advantages have been described in the literature, but much more research is needed. Challenges with the academic platform at aspecific institution of higher learning necessitate investigation into the current literature on PAL, which can inform decisions in terms of teaching and learning of allied health professions students.Objective. To critically appraise evidence of the effectiveness and implementation of PAL during the professional clinical skills training of undergraduate students in allied health professions to make informed future decisions on teaching and learning.Methods. A literature search was conducted by an experienced librarian in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa and the researcher in multiple electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Africa-Wide Information, ERIC and PubMed) published from 2000 to 2014.Results. One hundred and seventy-five articles on PAL in health professions training were identified. The selected articles (n=20) were independentlycritically appraised by two researchers by means of the standardised critical appraisal skills programme (CASP) and the Author Manuscript of theNational Institutes of Health on Appraising Quantitative Research in Health Education. Nine articles were identified to be reviewed (two by the same author).Conclusion. The findings with regard to the limited number of articles reviewed suggested that PAL may address some of the needs of the new generation of students and may be beneficial to the student tutor, student tutee and clinical supervisor. More evidence is needed in terms of the questions arising from the review, especially with regard to occupational therapy, dietetics and nutrition, and optometry, to fully implement PAL.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T17:25:34Z
format Article
id doaj.art-5dea77277c844e04bcdb0001a7cfce91
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2078-5127
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T17:25:34Z
publishDate 2017-03-01
publisher South African Medical Association
record_format Article
series African Journal of Health Professions Education
spelling doaj.art-5dea77277c844e04bcdb0001a7cfce912024-01-02T19:52:46ZengSouth African Medical AssociationAfrican Journal of Health Professions Education2078-51272017-03-019191210.7196/AJHPE.2017.v9i1.588An integrated literature review of undergraduate peer teaching in allied health professionsS van VuurenBackground. The concept of peer-assisted teaching or peer-assisted learning (PAL) has been receiving more attention in the teaching of medical and alliedhealth students. Many advantages have been described in the literature, but much more research is needed. Challenges with the academic platform at aspecific institution of higher learning necessitate investigation into the current literature on PAL, which can inform decisions in terms of teaching and learning of allied health professions students.Objective. To critically appraise evidence of the effectiveness and implementation of PAL during the professional clinical skills training of undergraduate students in allied health professions to make informed future decisions on teaching and learning.Methods. A literature search was conducted by an experienced librarian in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa and the researcher in multiple electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Africa-Wide Information, ERIC and PubMed) published from 2000 to 2014.Results. One hundred and seventy-five articles on PAL in health professions training were identified. The selected articles (n=20) were independentlycritically appraised by two researchers by means of the standardised critical appraisal skills programme (CASP) and the Author Manuscript of theNational Institutes of Health on Appraising Quantitative Research in Health Education. Nine articles were identified to be reviewed (two by the same author).Conclusion. The findings with regard to the limited number of articles reviewed suggested that PAL may address some of the needs of the new generation of students and may be beneficial to the student tutor, student tutee and clinical supervisor. More evidence is needed in terms of the questions arising from the review, especially with regard to occupational therapy, dietetics and nutrition, and optometry, to fully implement PAL.http://www.ajhpe.org.za/index.php/ajhpe/article/download/588/444
spellingShingle S van Vuuren
An integrated literature review of undergraduate peer teaching in allied health professions
African Journal of Health Professions Education
title An integrated literature review of undergraduate peer teaching in allied health professions
title_full An integrated literature review of undergraduate peer teaching in allied health professions
title_fullStr An integrated literature review of undergraduate peer teaching in allied health professions
title_full_unstemmed An integrated literature review of undergraduate peer teaching in allied health professions
title_short An integrated literature review of undergraduate peer teaching in allied health professions
title_sort integrated literature review of undergraduate peer teaching in allied health professions
url http://www.ajhpe.org.za/index.php/ajhpe/article/download/588/444
work_keys_str_mv AT svanvuuren anintegratedliteraturereviewofundergraduatepeerteachinginalliedhealthprofessions
AT svanvuuren integratedliteraturereviewofundergraduatepeerteachinginalliedhealthprofessions