Effectiveness of the team-based learning (TBL) strategy on medical students' performance

Team-based learning (TBL) represents a new and interesting educational strategy. It helps to enhance students' professional competencies and ideally works to prepare them in their pursuit of lifelong learning. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of TBL as an educational strategy on medical students' performance in a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum.

A cross-sectional study was conducted through a self-designed questionnaire. It was constructed to examine several aspects of TBL, including cognition, social skills, high school educational system, and personal development. A total of 112 students were invited to participate in the study and 100 completed the survey. Individual-readiness assurance test (IRAT) and group-readiness assurance test (GRAT) scores were collected and the data were analysed and compared to the results of the final assessment using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

A total of 52 students (52%) described TBL as fostering a cooperative learning environment and 64 students (64%) found the materials to be easier to understand when discussed among themselves as a group. Compared to final examination results, there was a significant correlation (p = 0.0001) between IRAT performance and final exam score. In addition, there was a significant correlation between high school education system and IRAT score, where the best performance was observed among students coming from schools using the British curriculum.

The overall perception and attitude of students toward the TBL system was positive and promising. Nevertheless, there are some notes and areas of concern that must be re-examined and remedied to improve TBL as an educational tool.