Neuroscience Near-Peer-Led Flipped Classroom Improves Student Confidence With Clinical Application of Content and Test-Taking Skills

Abstract

Introduction: The ability to apply knowledge gained in neuroscience coursework to a clinical scenario is found to be difficult by many medical students. Neuroscience is both important for future clinical practice and an area frequently tested on USMLE Step 1 examinations. Methods: Second-year medical students created a peer-led flipped classroom to help first-year students practice applying medical neuroscience course information to clinical situations and demonstrate how that information might be tested in board-style questions. The second-year students designed a series of board-style questions that included explanations for both the correct and incorrect answers. We divided the first-year students (n = 80) into small groups during the flipped classroom sessions, where they were led by second-year medical students in discussion about the questions and clinical situations. Results: Students reported agreement that the session addressed gaps in their knowledge and provided them with useful critical thinking skills for approaching board-style questions (83% and 81% agreed or strongly agreed, respectively). Discussion: The flipped classroom improved student confidence in both applying neuroscience concepts to clinical scenarios and to board-style vignette questions.