Interprofessional Peer-Assisted Learning as a Model of Instruction in Doctor of Audiology Programs.

Purpose: This study reports on interprofessional peer-assisted learning (PAL) as a model of instruction in the preparation of doctoral audiology students.

Method: Ten Doctor of Audiology (AuD) students provided training in audiologic screening for 53 graduate speech-language pathology students in 9 individual PAL sessions. Pre- and post-surveys assessed the peer teaching experience for AuD students in 5 areas of their confidence in audiologic screening: knowledge, skill, making a referral based on outcomes, teaching, and supervising. Pre- and post-learning outcomes in audiologic screening for the speech-language pathology student trainees determined the effectiveness of training by their AuD student peers.

Results: Survey outcomes revealed significant (p < .001) improvement in the overall confidence of AuD student peer instructors. Speech-language pathology students trained by their AuD peers exhibited significant (p = .003) improvements in their knowledge and skill and making outcome-based referrals in audiologic screening, supporting the effectiveness of the PAL paradigm.

Conclusions: In addition to meeting required accreditation and professional certification competency standards, the PAL instructional model offers an innovative curricular approach in interprofessional education and in the teaching and supervisory preparation of students in doctoral audiology programs.