Objective knowledge assessments show no significant improvement after PBL in family medicine residency, with gains comparable to lectures¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · review r2–r3 · q2
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Objective pre/post knowledge testing after PBL found no statistically significant improvement. → Clemens Megan 2026 q2 i? Most studies found no significant differences in knowledge gain or retention between lecture instruction and PBL when measured objectively. → Clemens Megan 2026 (2)

Evidence¶

Clemens Megan 2026¶

Clemens Megan, Boparai Josheil Kaur, Dawe Russell, Avery Susan. (2026). Problem-based and related learning approaches in family medicine residency: a scoping review of four countries. Canadian Medical Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.81284

q2 · i? · review · r3

The review reports Colenda et al.'s quasi-experimental pre/post test after a PBL module on managed care: mean scores moved from 66.4% to 69.2% with "no statistically significant improvement"; the pass rate rose from 65% to 80%, also not significant. No effect size is printed.

"One study objectively measured knowledge before and after PBL using a 10-item multiple-choice test but found no statistically significant improvement in the mean pre- vs. post-test (66.4% vs. 69.2% after PBL)."

Clemens Megan 2026 (2)¶

Clemens Megan, Boparai Josheil Kaur, Dawe Russell, Avery Susan. (2026). Problem-based and related learning approaches in family medicine residency: a scoping review of four countries. Canadian Medical Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.81284

q2 · i? · review · r2

The review's cross-study synthesis of objective knowledge comparisons (Benson et al.; Haidet et al.) found lecture and PBL comparable. One exception is noted: one study reported greater knowledge following PBL (p < 0.01). No effect sizes are printed.

"Most studies have found no significant differences in knowledge gain or retention between lecture instruction and PBL when measured objectively.23,27"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• PBL in family medicine residency programs is associated with high learner satisfaction, though not always rated above lectures — related
• PBL shifts learners' opinions about topics modestly, and learners with strong pre-existing opinions are less likely to change — related
• Limited evidence suggests PBL participants implement practice changes, but behavior-change data are sparse and mostly non-significant — related