The benefits of a peer-assisted mock PACES

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Clinical Skills Assessment

Background:

• Peer-assisted learning (PAL) and mock examinations are recognized teaching tools.
• Research on their effectiveness in practical assessment of clinical examination skills (PACES) is limited.
• This study addresses the gap by evaluating PAL within a mock PACES.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate an effective model for PAL implementation in a mock PACES.
• To assess the benefits of PAL for medical students preparing for PACES.
• To evaluate the impact of mock PACES on tutors' confidence and knowledge.

Main Methods:

• A mock PACES was developed for fifth-year medical students at Imperial College London.
• Examiners were recruited from final-year medical students and intern (foundation year) doctors.
• A Likert scale questionnaire was administered pre- and post-mock exam to assess effectiveness.

Main Results:

• Student confidence significantly increased post-mock PACES (mean 3.54 vs. 2.68).
• 90.64% of students found mock PACES more useful than traditional teaching methods.
• Tutors reported improved teaching confidence (mean 4.07) and enhanced clinical knowledge (mean 4.18).

Conclusions:

• The mock PACES model, incorporating PAL, effectively improved confidence and knowledge for both students and tutors.
• This study validates the benefits of PAL and mock examinations for PACES preparation.
• The findings support integrating this model into undergraduate medical curricula.