title: Peer-assisted learning: time for nomenclature clarification.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peer-assisted learning (PAL) is used throughout all levels of healthcare education. Lack of formalised agreement on different PAL programmes may confuse the literature. Given the increasing interest in PAL as an education philosophy, the terms need clarification. The aim of this review is to 1) describe different PAL programmes, 2) clarify the terminology surrounding PAL, and 3) propose a simple pragmatic way of defining PAL programmes based on their design.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of current PAL programmes within the healthcare setting was conducted. Each programme was scrutinised based on two aspects: the relationship between student and teacher, and the student to teacher ratio. The studies were then shown to fit exclusively into the novel proposed classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 34 programmes found, demonstrate a wide variety in terms used. We established six terms, which exclusively applied to the programmes. The relationship between student and teacher was categorised as peer-to-peer or near-peer. The student to teacher ratio suited three groupings, named intuitively 'Mentoring' (1:1 or 1:2), 'Tutoring' (1:3-10), and 'Didactic' (1:>10). From this, six novel terms - all under the heading of PAL - are suggested: 'Peer Mentoring', 'Peer Tutoring', 'Peer Didactic', 'Near-Peer Mentoring', 'Near-Peer Tutoring', and 'Near-Peer Didactic'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest herein a simple pragmatic terminology to overcome ambiguous terminology. Academically, clear terms will allow effective and efficient research, ensuring furthering of the educational philosophy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.|Emergency & Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.|National Trauma Research Institute, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; alexander.olaussen@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olaussen
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Irvine
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors; D010379:Peer Group; D013337:Students, Medical; D013663:Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009626:Terminology as Topic
keywords: PAL; didactic; mentor; near-peer; near-peer teacher; peer-assisted learning; tutoring