Is Peer assisted learning better? A modern question to answer: A comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of peer-assisted learning against expert-assisted learning in terms of scores achieved by medical students, and to assess the perceptions of students about peer-assisted learning. METHODS: The mixed-method study was conducted at Wah Medical College, Wah Cantonment, Pakistan, from October 2017 to December 2018, and comprised fourth year medical students who were randomised into groups A and B. In the first session the topic 'Data' was taught to group A by a peer and to group B by an expert teacher. In the next session the topic 'Sampling' was taught to group A by an expert teacher and to group B by a peer. Each session was followed by an assessment. Students' views about peer-assisted learning were collected using a predesigned questionnaire. An open-ended question about the role of expert in teaching was also asked from the students. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. Qualitative data was analysed to identify emerging themes. RESULTS: Of the 80 subjects, 41(51.25%) were group A and 39(48.75%) were in group B. Overall, there were 36(45%) males and 44(55%) females. In the first session, mean group A score was 6.85±1.99 and for group B it was 7.54±1.76 (p>0.05). In the second session, the mean score of group A was 6.12±2.06 and for group B it was 4.82±2.01 (p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Peer-assisted learning was found to be a valuable tool that can be incorporated in the curriculum delivery for easy topics. However the significance of expert's assistance, guidance and feedback cannot be negated.

Birth Preparedness Among Women Coming To Pof Ospital Wah; A Cross Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: High women deaths due to pregnancy, child birth and postpartum complications were the hallmarks of the end of last century especially in Asia. Strategy adopted to achieve this is called birth preparedness whose main aim is to empower the community. This study was planned to determine the frequency of awareness about birth preparedness and the association of birth preparedness with the educational and employment status of the women. METHODS: It was a cross sectional study carried out in Pakistan Ordinance Factories Hospital Wah Cantt. A sample of 385 women was calculated by WHO sample size calculator. The sample was selected by purposive sampling. The study was carried out from September 2015 to March 2016. A structured questionnaire was filled regarding awareness about birth preparedness among women after taking informed consent from each of them. Demographic characteristics were recorded. Birth preparedness awareness was assessed by questionnaire containing 10 items. The data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 19. Pearson correlation was applied to find the association of birth preparedness with the educational and employment status of the women at p-value of 0.05. RESULTS: In a sample of 385 women, 131 (34.1%) were prepared. Statistically significant p value of 0.000 was found between birth preparedness and educational status while a p-value of 0.153 was found between birth preparedness and employment status of the women. CONCLUSIONS: The study concluded that despite having education and availability of free medical facility the women were not aware of birth preparedness.