Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
13:44
Project-Based Learning Guidelines for Health Sciences Students: An Analysis with Data Mining and Qualitative Techniques
Published on: December 9, 2022
Problem-Based Learning in a Resource-Limited Setting: Critical Thinking, Interpersonal Communication, and
Bruce Ayabilla Abugri1, Patience Kanyiri Gaa2, Sophia Ewuenye Adjoa Kpebu1
1Department of Health Professions Education and Innovation Learning, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Teaching and Learning in Medicine
|July 30, 2026
Summary
Problem-based learning (PBL) did not improve critical thinking or communication skills in first-year Ghanaian medical students. While satisfaction was high, perceived supportiveness declined, indicating a need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Health Professions Education
- Curriculum Development
Background:
- Problem-based learning (PBL) is recognized globally for enhancing critical thinking and communication skills.
- Limited evidence exists on PBL's impact on first-year medical students in resource-constrained environments.
- This study investigates PBL effects in Ghana, a representative resource-limited setting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of an eight-month PBL program on first-year medical students' self-reported critical thinking.
- To evaluate changes in perceived interpersonal communication competence following PBL exposure.
- To gauge student satisfaction with the PBL curriculum.
Main Methods:
- A pretest-posttest design was utilized over an eight-month period.
- Students completed validated questionnaires for critical thinking and interpersonal communication competence.
- A local satisfaction survey was administered; data analyzed using SPSS and non-parametric tests.
Main Results:
- No significant changes were observed in overall critical thinking scores from pre- to post-test.
- Interpersonal communication competence remained stable, with a significant decrease in perceived supportiveness.
- A majority (72.8%) reported satisfaction with PBL, with males expressing higher satisfaction than females.
Conclusions:
- PBL in this resource-constrained setting did not enhance critical thinking or communication skills.
- A decline in perceived supportiveness suggests a need for improved collaborative learning strategies.
- Gender-sensitive approaches and enhanced scaffolding are recommended for future PBL implementation.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Critical Thinking II
Critical thinking is a cognitive process with several attributes. The attributes of critical thinking include the following:
01:24Critical Thinking I
Critical thinking helps decision-making and allows nurses to recognize barriers to success and find solutions to possible issues. It helps to brainstorm and implement ideas to achieve goals. Critical thinking helps acknowledge and state workflow inefficiencies while improving management techniques. Nurses understand the value of critical thinking and look for fellow nurses with critical thinking skills to upgrade their professional standards. Critical thinking can advance a nurse's career with...
01:13Patient-centered Care
Patient-centered care involves delivering care beyond inpatient hospitalization. Reflective practice can enhance a patient-centered approach. Reflective practice is a process of reasoning that considers all aspects of the present situation, including practicalities, learning from personal practice, and consideration of patient needs. Patients appreciate care decisions made while considering their input. Involving the patient in their care provides the patient with a sense of contribution rather...
01:21Barriers to Effective Communication II
The barriers to effective communication also include cultural barriers, semantic barriers, gender barriers, and time constraints.
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
01:26Methods of Documentation II: POMR
The Problem-Oriented Medical Record (POMR) revolutionized medical record-keeping by introducing a systematic approach focusing on the patient's problems rather than merely listing symptoms. Dr. Lawrence Weed's introduction of this method in the 1960s marked a significant advancement in medical documentation. The POMR framework consists of four key components: the database, problem list, plan of care, and progress notes.
01:21Cognitive Learning
Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...