title: Perception of content and non-content expert facilitators of PBL according to students' performance levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Problem-based learning (PBL) is a student-centred learning system that involves multidisciplinary fields focused on problem solving. Facilitators of PBL are not necessarily content experts but little is known on how this concept has affected the outcomes of PBL sessions in learning Medical Biochemistry. We aimed to evaluate the impact of having the content expert as a facilitator in conducting PBL.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 150 first and second year medical students from the University Kebangsaan Malaysia were interviewed with a validated set of questions to acquire their views on the roles of facilitators in PBL in learning Medical Biochemistry. Their achievement were evaluated through their essay marks derived from various PBL packages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All respondents agreed that PBL sessions associated with Medical Biochemistry are best appreciated when conducted by a content-expert facilitator. Their exam marks reflected well on their perception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PBL sessions related to Medical Biochemistry is best facilitated by Biochemistry lecturers as the content experts.
authors: Dr. Noor Akmal Shareela Ismail, PhD. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Noor Akmal Shareela
authors: NA
authors: Ismail
authors: Dr. Ekram Alias, PhD. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Ekram
authors: E
authors: Alias
authors: Dr. Khaizurin Tajul Arifin, PhD. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Khaizurin Tajul
authors: KT
authors: Arifin
authors: Dr. Mohd Hanafi A Damanhuri, PhD. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Mohd Hanafi A
authors: MH
authors: Damanhuri
authors: Dr. Norwahidah Abd Karim, PhD. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Norwahidah Abd
authors: NA
authors: Karim
authors: Dr. Goon Jo Aan, PhD. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Goon Jo
authors: GJ
authors: Aan
keywords: Content expert; Facilitator; Medical Biochemistry; Meet-the-expert-session; Problem-based learning; Undergraduate students