Abstract
BACKGROUND: Peer education is an education model applied to change knowledge, behavior, and attitude in groups equal to each other regarding age, education, and status. This model is preferred in universities to improve teaching skills and reduce the stress level of students. This study aims to apply the peer education model at Trakya University Faculty of Medicine to receive feedback from students and to examine its effect on exam results. METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted with second-year medical students in parasitology laboratory lessons. Eighteen out of a total of 264 students were selected as peer educators. Peer educators have reached the level of providing education to students by taking the training before the laboratory lessons. At the end of the study, questionnaires were applied to peer educators and students. The students' of 2021-2022 exam results were compared with the 2018-2019 academic year results. RESULTS: A total of 233 students were surveyed, and 78.5% (183/233) of them believe peer education is helpful, 69.9% (163/233) think it can help them reinforce what they have learned in theoretical lessons, 54.5% (127/233) think it should be used in other practical lessons, and 64.3% think it should be used in the coming years. While there was no significant difference between the exam results of the students in 2021-2022 and the 2018-2019 period (p: 0.462), a significant difference was found between the exam results of peer educators and students (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is known that with the peer education model, student stress will decrease, and interest and participation in the lesson will increase. Continuing this education model in the coming years and expanding it to other laboratory courses will benefit medical education.