JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Peer teaching in medicine is a valuable educational approach that benefits students and tutors alike. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the advancement of remote education in the medical field. In response, the Cerrahpasa Neuroscience Society organized a volunteer-based online peer tutoring program to introduce students to central nervous system tumors.

Objective:

This study evaluates the effectiveness of feedback in peer tutoring sessions in terms of both practice and outcomes.

Methods:

A comprehensive course, "Pathology and Radiology of Nervous System Tumors," was scheduled to run from March 16 to May 11, 2021. The course was open to medical students of any grade and school, and participants had to attend at least 80% of the classes and score a minimum of 80% on the final exam to earn a completion certificate. A 10-question multiple-choice quiz on the lecture material followed each session. Following the quiz, participants were given a feedback form on which to rate the tutors. This form included a 5-point Likert scale to evaluate specific criteria and open-ended questions designed to elicit information about strengths and weaknesses to improve future sessions. The feedback form responses were the primary source of data for this study.

Results:

The course enrolled a total of 65 students, with attendance gradually decreasing from 35 to 12 over time. The course was led by two fifth-year medical students. The average quiz score improved throughout the course, except for the final quiz, which had the lowest average grade. The highest average tutor rating was 4.88 for "preparation for the lesson," while the lowest average rating was 4.57 for "specifying the takeaway points." Open-ended questions revealed that tutees primarily requested the inclusion of medical cases in the lectures. Of the seven tutees who submitted answers to the final exam, all surpassed the 80% threshold and qualified for a completion certificate.

Conclusions:

The online peer-tutored course provided a successful platform for medical students from across Turkey to learn and interact amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The incorporation of feedback from participants allowed tutors to refine their teaching methods and improve the overall learning experience.