title: The Southeast Scotland Foundation Doctor Teaching Programme--is "near-peer" teaching feasible, efficacious and sustainable on a regional scale?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peer-assisted learning has advantages for students and tutors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to establish a novel 'near-peer' teaching scheme delivered by junior doctors for final-year medical students in Southeast Scotland. We report feedback from students regarding the perceived utility of this scheme, the results of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of its impact, and mechanisms for quality assurance and sustainability.
  
  
  METHODS
  The scheme was devised by newly qualified doctors. Following open recruitment and tutor training, junior doctor-led sessions were provided on clinical examination and practical prescribing in 2006-2008. Feedback was sought using anonymized questionnaires. An RCT was performed to assess the effect of attendance at a prescribing tutorial on performance in a mock assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 271 students in 2006-2007, 234 (86%) completed voluntary feedback and 233 (99%) expressed interest in attending more tutorials. In the RCT, students who received a tutorial made fewer dosing errors (9 vs. 22, p = 0.049). The majority of tutors attending the training symposium felt the experience was useful and helped prepare them for teaching.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  'Near-peer' teaching is a popular adjunct to the undergraduate programme and may promote junior doctors' professional development. Such schemes can be devised and delivered by juniors in conjunction with university staff.
authors.affiliation: Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. j.n.rodrigues@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Anshuman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.forename: Alana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ford