Perception of students about the problem-based learning sessions conducted for medical and dental schools' students of Universiti Sains Malaysia

Abstract

In the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) and the School of Dental Sciences(SDS), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), both the MD and DDS programsrespectively are 5 year integrated programs. The full 5 year program isdivided into 3 phases and each curriculum is problem-based and communityoriented.Phase II consists of years two and three and introduces different healthevents of human life with reference to integrated knowledge on commondiseases. Teaching and learning in this phase includes lectures, practical, fixedlearning modules, clinical clerkship and problem-based learning sessions. APBL session consists of 2–3 hours with a group of 14–16 students and tutorsfrom all disciplines act as facilitators for the sessions.Since its implementation at McMaster University in 1969, PBL has becomeworldwide with variations on implementation (Albanese & Mitchell, 1993).The experience of PBL can be stressful both for students and faculty andimplementation of PBL may be unrealistically costly. There are few studies on