Challenges of Peer Assisted Learning in online clinical skills training of Ophthalmology module

Background In recent days when mankind is passing through the difficult times of COVID-19 pandemic with lock down, almost all over the world, online communication has taken over the world. Overburdened physicians in this pandemic cannot get enough time to teach clinical skills online to the students. Also, due to student’s safety issues, the students cannot attend the clinics. Therefore, in this scenario online PAL sessions for clinical skill teaching and learning can be an effective alternative for undergraduate medical students. The academic limitations caused by the COVID-19 related lockdown however can have a pleasurable outcome if certain challenges, related to online PAL, are overcome. Therefore, the present study aims to identify the challenges of Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) sessions during online clinical skills training in Ophthalmology module of undergraduate medical students.MethodologyThis qualitative exploratory study, utilizing online focus group discussions to explore the challenges of online PAL in training and learning of clinical skills was carried at Ophthalmology department of Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah; Saudi Arabia. Ethical approval was taken from the college and purposive convenient sampling technique was used to collect data. Data was transcribed and analyzed by using thematic analysisResultsThe study identified six themes for argument and classified into further smaller subthemes. The subthemes derived from the collected data were organized under major themes; infrastructure, learning environment, psychological problems, interaction deficit, learning desires and desire for feedback on performance. In our study, major challenge faced by the medical student during online PAL sessions was infrastructure in terms of network connection, scheduling, timing of the session which overpowered by other challenges of online PAL. Unprofessional learning environment, psychological problems in terms of behavioral issues and personality changes, interaction deficit with peers, tutor and patient, learning desires and desire for feedback on performance were the other important challenges faced by the students. ConclusionThe challenges explored by our study can be used by the medical educators to incorporate online PAL as an effective, efficient and alternative teaching and learning modality in the curriculum especially in compromised circumstances like current COVID-19 pandemic.