The Benefits and Drawbacks of Problem-Based Learning: The View of Pre-Housemen and Clinical Year Students

Abstract

Problem-based learning (PBL) extensively practiced learning approaches in medicine and various higher education settings. Success or failure of PBL depends on student's perception and attitude as well as the facilitators. Understanding student's perception and attitude toward PBL and also the facilitator would work as feedback to upgrade PBL. The purpose of this is study was to determine the students of clinical years and pre-houseman perceptions and attitudes towards the PBL and its facilitators. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted in a private institution in Malaysia; the questionnaire was prepared using Google docs and distributed to pre-housemen and clinical year students. The results showed 86.2% of participant's positive perception that voiced as the Problem Based Learning encourages them for learning cognitive and soft skills. More than half of the students have consented; that students with dominant leadership benefit more with PBL, and others remain disadvantages in PBL is one of the drawbacks. The majority of the students expressed a positive attitude towards the facilitators; that the guidance and encouragement extended during the PBL session. They also expressed their opinion that the facilitator should debrief at the end of the PBL session. The study concludes that PBL is an appropriate tool to nurture students and enrich them with their soft skills and making better use of cognitive ability. Furthermore, the study conceptualizes that besides some drawbacks in PBL facilitation, it is one of the best methods pave up to the achievements of university objectives. This study results would be beneficial in the facilitation of future PBL sessions not only in Lincoln University College but also in other global universities.