title: Near-peer teaching in an anatomy course with a low faculty-to-student ratio.
abstract: Near-peer teaching is an educational format which utilizes tutors who are more advanced in a curriculum's content to supervise students' activities and to act as instructors in laboratory settings. This format is often used in anatomy laboratory courses. The goal of the present study is to describe the design and implementation of near-peer teaching in an anatomy course and to evaluate students' perceptions of the program. A total of 700 students were registered for this anatomy course which employed near-peer instructors. Of enrolled students, 558 (79.7%) agreed to participate in this study. In general, the practical section (e.g., the clinical hour, image-based anatomy session, and gross anatomy laboratory) of the course was viewed more favorably compared to the theory section (54.8%, n = 306), with dissection and prosection in the laboratory rated as the most valued experiences (34.9%, n = 195). Near-peer teaching is a viable option that satisfies the demands of modern curricula using small groups. This format stimulates learning within courses that have large numbers of students and low faculty-to-student ratios.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico.
authors.forename: Claudia Elisa Pámanes
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Durán
authors.forename: Eduardo Navarro
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Bahena
authors.forename: María de Los Ángeles García
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Guillermo Jacobo
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Baca
authors.forename: Antonio Sánchez
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Uresti
authors.forename: Rodrigo Enrique
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Elizondo-Omaña
authors.forename: Santos Guzmán
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: López
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000715:Anatomy / Q000193:education*; D032882:Comprehension; D003479:Curriculum; D004210:Dissection / Q000193:education; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D010379:Peer Group; D010465:Perception; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult