Nutrition and Preventative Medicine Across the Lifespan: Implementation of a Physician Assistant Team-Based Learning Curriculum on Pediatric Preventative Medicine.

PURPOSE: Physician assistants (PAs) will increasingly fill an important primary care gap in pediatrics. This study implemented a pediatric preventative care curriculum using a team-based learning (TBL) strategy and then evaluated the effect on first-year PA students' knowledge and attitudes toward TBL as a teaching method.

METHODS: The curriculum was developed and implemented during a one-semester course. Students completed knowledge-based questions precourse and postcourse; the mean scores for individual students were then compared using a paired t test. Descripted statistics were used to analyze the postcourse survey that evaluated students' attitudes toward TBL.

RESULTS: Of the 31 PA students who participated, 27 (87%) completed the surveys and were included in the analysis. The mean correct pretest and posttest scores were 17/39 and 31/39, respectively, resulting in a change of 14 points (p < .05). The majority of students (85%) rated TBL as effective, and most students (75%) reported that it led to retention of the presented content.

CONCLUSIONS: A TBL-based curriculum in pediatric preventative care was effective in increasing PA student knowledge, and the students reported it as effective. This strategy could be considered for other PA courses.