title: A peer learning intervention for nursing students in clinical practice education: A quasi-experimental study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies of peer learning indicate that the model enables students to practice skills useful in their future profession, such as communication, cooperation, reflection and independence. However, so far most studies have used a qualitative approach and none have used a quasi-experimental design to study effects of nursing students' peer learning in clinical practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of peer learning in clinical practice education on nursing students' self-rated performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quasi-experimental.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted during nursing students' clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  All undergraduate nursing students (n=87) attending their first clinical practice were approached. Seventy students out of 87 answered the questionnaires at both baseline and follow-up (42 of 46 in the intervention group and 28 of 39 in the comparison group).
  
  
  METHODS
  During the first two weeks of the clinical practice period, all students were supervised traditionally. Thereafter, the intervention group received peer learning the last two weeks, and the comparison group received traditional supervision. Questionnaire data were collected on nursing students' self-rated performance during the second (baseline) and last (follow-up) week of their clinical practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Self-efficacy was improved in the intervention group and a significant interaction effect was found for changes over time between the two groups. For the other self-rated variables/tests, there were no differences in changes over time between the groups. Studying each group separately, the intervention group significantly improved on thirteen of the twenty variables/tests over time and the comparison group improved on four.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that peer learning is a useful method which improves nursing students' self-efficacy to a greater degree than traditional supervision does. Regarding the other self-rated performance variables, no interaction effects were found.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Box 564, 751 22 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: ylapan@hig.se.
authors.forename: Ylva
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pålsson
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Box 564, 751 22 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: gunilla.martensson@hig.se.
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mårtensson
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Box 564, 751 22 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: Christine.Leo.Swenne@pubcare.uu.se.
authors.forename: Christine Leo
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Swenne
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden. Electronic address: ehh@hig.se.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ädel
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, Kungsbäcksvägen 47, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Box 564, 751 22 Uppsala, Sweden; Nursing Department, Medicine and Health College, Lishui University, China. Electronic address: maria.engstrom@hig.se.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Engström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D010379:Peer Group; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Clinical practice education; Intervention; Nursing students; Peer learning; Quasi-experimental