• Mansour L Alsulmi, Muath M Alqarni, Anwar A Althaqfi, Hattan H Bosy, Ruqayya A Azher, Marwan A Sabbagh, Basem H Bahakeem, and Emad M Tashkandi.
• From the College of Medicine (Alsulmi, Alqarni, Althaqfi, Bosy, Azher, Sabbagh, Bahakeem, Tashkandi), Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Abdia, Makkah; and from the Department of Meidcal Oncology (Tashkandi), King Abdullah Medical City, Oncology Center, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Saudi Med J. 2022 Feb 1; 43 (2): 202-207.

ObjectivesTo compare the effectiveness of peer-assisted learning (PAL) and expert-assisted learning (EAL) in terms of knowledge gain in virtual chest x-ray (CXR) interpretations. The secondary objective was to assess students' satisfaction levels between both groups.MethodsIn this randomized controlled trial, second-year medical students who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to the PAL and EAL groups. The study was carried out from December 2020 to February 2021 at Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The primary endpoint was the difference in the students' scores, which were determined by an independent reviewer. The secondary endpoint was students' satisfaction levels.ResultsA total of 166 second year medical students were included. The standard deviation and mean age of the population were 19.73±0.66 (males: 79 [47.6%]; females: 87 [52.4%]). Participants were allocated equally into two groups (83 in each group). Student scores did not differ significantly between the two groups (p=0.507). Students in the PAL group thought the session was useful (p=0.01), kept on time (p=0.043), and the tutor facilitated their learning process (p=0.011). They also felt that online teaching was as effective as traditional teaching (p=0.03). There was no significant difference in satisfaction scores on the other aspects of the questionnaire.ConclusionPeer-assisted learning has equivalent efficacy compared to EAL in a virtual setting. The Students in the PAL group had higher level of satisfaction.Copyright: © Saudi Medical Journal.

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