BackgroundSeveral benefits of peer tutoring in medical school teaching have been described. However, there is a lack of research on the perceptions of peer tutoring, particularly from tutees who partake in a long-term clinical skills scheme integrated into the medical school curriculum. This study evaluates the opinions of preclinical tutees at the end of a 2-year peer-tutored clinical skills program and peer tutors themselves.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in a UK-based medical school that primarily utilizes peer tutoring for clinical skills teaching. A questionnaire was designed to assess the views of preclinical tutees and peer tutors. Likert scales were used to grade responses and comment boxes to collect qualitative data.ResultsSixty-five questionnaires were collected (52 tutees, 13 peer tutors). Seventy-nine percent of students felt satisfied with their teaching, and 70% felt adequately prepared for clinical placements. Furthermore, 79% believed that peer tutoring is the most effective method for clinical skills teaching. When compared to faculty teaching, tutees preferred being taught by peer tutors (63%), felt more confident (73%), and were more willing to engage (77%). All peer tutors felt that teaching made them more confident in their Objective Structured Clinical Examination performance, and 91% agreed that being a tutor made them consider pursuing teaching in the future. Thematic analysis of qualitative data identified 3 themes regarding peer tutoring: a more comfortable environment (69%), a more personalized teaching approach (34%), and variation in content taught (14%).ConclusionPreclinical tutees prefer being taught clinical skills by peer tutors compared to faculty, with the peer tutors also benefitting. Studies such as this, looking at long-term schemes, further validate peer tutoring and may encourage more medical schools to adopt this method as an effective way of clinical skills teaching.

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Gouty arthritis commonly occurs in peripheral synovial joints and involvement in the thoracic cage is extremely rare. We report a case of a 52-year-old presenting with a painful bony mass in her sternal notch. Imaging demonstrated a lobulated calcified and necrotic lesion causing mass effect on adjacent structures. Excision biopsy confirmed a benign cystic lesion with amorphous material containing needle-shaped refractile crystals suggestive of uric acid. Tophaceous gout was diagnosed. Presence of a periarticular mass with characteristics of gout should warrant investigation with biopsy and imaging. This can prevent misdiagnosis of malignancy and avoid unnecessary surgery in asymptomatic lesions.

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guidelines. The majority of children screened did not have a BBI. This data highlights that we do not know the incidence of BBI in LAC. Larger data sets would be needed to investigate this further to determine the incidence and help guide our screening practice.