Evaluation of medical students’ perception towards the BigSib Programme in the School of Medical Sciences, USM

Objective: BigSib Students’ Peer-Group Mentoring Programme was implemented as an innovative, interactive and integrated instructional method in the Universiti Sains Malaysia medical school curriculum designed to enhance and strengthen medical students training in soft skills and professional development. This study was conducted to evaluate first- and second-year medical students’ perceptions of and attitudes towards the ProgrammeMethodology: A cross sectional study was carried on 314 medical students. Questionnaires assessing medical students’ perceptions and attitudes towards the Programme were administered. Data were analysed by using SPSS version 12Results: 45.9 % of the students perceived the BigSib Students’ Peer-Group Mentoring Programme as successful. More than 50% of the students are willing to participate in the Programme. About 60% of the students perceived it as an effective Programme in developing their soft skills and professionalism.Conclusion: Medical students have positive attitudes toward the Programme and it is perceived as a successful and effective Programme in developing students’ personal attributes. Similar peer-group mentoring programme may be considered relevant to be incorporated into the medical curriculum in the future.