title: From see one do one, to see a good one do a better one: learning physical examination skills through peer observation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Learning and mastering the skills required to execute physical exams is of great importance and should be fostered early during medical training. Observing peers has been shown to positively influence the acquisition of psychomotor skills.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study investigated the influence of peer observation on the acquisition of psychomotor skills required to execute a physical examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Second-year medical students (N=194) learned the neurological physical examination for low back pain in groups of three. Each student learned and performed the physical examination while the other students observed. Analyses compared the impact of the quantity and the quality of observed performances on students' learning of the physical examination skills.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students benefited from observing peers while they executed their examination. Moreover, observing a high-performing peer increased the acquisition of physical examination skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that group learning activities that allow students to observe their peers during physical examination should be favored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Christina.St-Onge@USherbrooke.ca
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: St-Onge
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martineau
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bergeron
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mamede
authors.forename: Remy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rikers
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D019370:Observation; D010379:Peer Group; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000592:standards*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D055815:Young Adult