title: "Peer-assisted learning" (PAL) in the Skills-Lab--an inventory at the medical faculties of the Federal Republic of Germany.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over multiple years, the didactic concept of "peer-assisted learning" (PAL) has proved to be valuable for medical education. Particularly in the field of the nowadays widely established Skills-Labs, the assignment of student tutors is both popular and effective. The aim of the underlying study is to assess the current status of PAL programs within German medical faculties' Skills-Labs regarding their distribution, extent, structure and content based on a nation-wide survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 36 medical faculties in Germany were contacted and asked for their participation (via telephone or in written form) in the survey encompassing 16 central questions as to the structure of established PAL programs. Data obtained were subject to quantitative and qualitative analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  35 of 36 (97.2%) medical faculties participated in the survey. A PAL program was shown to be established at 33 (91.7%) faculties. However, the results show distinct differences between different faculties with respect to extent and content of the PAL programs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among German medical Skills-Labs, PAL has been established almost ubiquitously. Further studies on the conception and standardization of training concepts appear to be pivotal for the advancement of PAL in the context of Skills-Labs.
authors.affiliation: University of Heidelberg, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Hospital for General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blohm
authors.affiliation: University of Heidelberg, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Hospital for General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lauter
authors.affiliation: University of Heidelberg, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Hospital for General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Branchereau
authors.affiliation: University of Heidelberg, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Hospital for General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krautter
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Heidelberg, Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Köhl-Hackert
authors.affiliation: University of Heidelberg, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Hospital for General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jünger
authors.affiliation: University of Heidelberg, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Hospital for General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.affiliation: University of Heidelberg, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Hospital for General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nikendei
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008511:Medicine; D008611:Mentors / Q000193:education; D010379:Peer Group; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Skills-Lab; medical education; peer-assisted learning; practical clinical skills; simulation; tutors