title: Peer-assisted learning in a student-run free clinic project increases clinical competence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Germany's first student-run free clinic (SRFC) for medically underserved patients has been established at the medical faculty of the Goethe-University, Frankfurt/Germany. Participating students are educated in a Peer Assisted Learning program (PAL). Little is known about the effectiveness of PAL in SRFCs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized, controlled, prospective study involving 50 participants. Students were either tested before or after receiving PAL. Knowledge and skill level were measured by theoretical and practical tests. In addition, curricular Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) results were compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students receiving PAL had significantly better results in theoretical (p < 0.001) and practical (p < 0.001) tests, as well as in the OSCE (p < 0.01). A control test showed no significant difference (p = 0.205) indicating similar prerequisites between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved results of the study group indicate an increase in the clinical knowledge and skills. PAL appears to be suitable for the training of basic medical skills and family medicine related knowledge and similar teaching projects could be based on it at other SRFCs.
authors.affiliation: a Goethe University Frankfurt , Germany .
authors.forename: Lukas B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.affiliation: a Goethe University Frankfurt , Germany .
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schaack
authors.affiliation: b University Hospital Frankfurt , Germany.
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jennewein
authors.affiliation: b University Hospital Frankfurt , Germany.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.affiliation: b University Hospital Frankfurt , Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.affiliation: a Goethe University Frankfurt , Germany .
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gerlach
authors.affiliation: b University Hospital Frankfurt , Germany.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sader
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000070319:Student Run Clinic