Systematic ReviewResearchNew Grad FriendlyQuality Improvement

Peer-assisted learning improved nursing students' knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy across 13 studies

The Journal of Nursing Education (PubMed)Jul 27, 2026

AI-summarized from the linked source. Educational brief, not medical advice.

Brief summary

A systematic review of 13 experimental and quasi-experimental studies found that structured peer-assisted learning improved undergraduate nursing students' knowledge, clinical and psychomotor skills, self-efficacy, teamwork, and leadership behaviors.

What NurseJet pulled from the source

The review included studies published from 2015 through October 2025. Across clinical settings, peer-assisted learning was associated with gains in knowledge, skills, confidence, teamwork, and leadership. Randomized trials reported medium-to-large effects for psychomotor performance and self-efficacy, supporting structured peer learning as a teaching approach rather than unsupervised substitution for faculty or clinical oversight.

Why this matters for nurses

Nurse educators and clinical instructors need scalable ways to support hands-on learning without blurring responsibility for supervision or competency decisions. The review supports deliberately structured peer learning while leaving program leaders to define training, oversight, and evaluation.

Bedside takeaway

Structured peer learning supported nursing-student knowledge, skills, confidence, teamwork, and leadership across 13 studies.

How This Applies in Practice

Use this when: Designing or facilitating a peer-assisted learning activity for undergraduate nursing students.

On your shift

Define the learning objective, peer roles, preparation, supervision boundaries, and feedback process before the activity.
Keep faculty or clinical-instructor observation in place for safety-sensitive skills and formal competency decisions.
Evaluate knowledge, skill performance, learner experience, and any safety or equity concerns using the program's approved measures.

Keep in mind: The review does not show that peers can replace qualified supervision. Follow nursing-program requirements, clinical-site facility policy, and local protocols.

Key takeaways

Thirteen experimental or quasi-experimental studies of undergraduate nursing students met the review criteria.
Peer-assisted learning consistently improved knowledge and clinical or psychomotor skills across the included studies.
Self-efficacy, teamwork, and leadership behaviors also improved.
The abstract does not report pooled effect estimates, risk-of-bias results, or long-term retention.

Practice implications

For a peer-learning activity, specify the learner and peer roles, the skill objective, supervision boundaries, and the feedback method. Use direct assessment for competency decisions and invite learners to report uncertainty or unsafe conditions to the instructor.

Limitations & cautions

The abstract does not provide risk-of-bias findings, heterogeneity, pooled estimates, long-term retention, or evidence that peer-assisted learning can replace faculty or clinical supervision. Included interventions and settings may differ.
AI-summarized from the linked source. Review the original article before applying to practice.

Citations

Exact source links

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The Journal of Nursing Education (PubMed)

The Journal of Nursing Education (PubMed). Harnessing Peer Power in Nursing Education: A Systematic Review of Peer-Assisted Learning Interventions.

Open original source

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42490512/

Professional education only

This summary does not replace clinical judgment, facility policy, provider orders, or official guidelines. Verify practice changes against the original source and local protocol.

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A systematic review found preliminary support for virtual-reality assessment and treatment during psychiatric hospitalization.

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The review included 37 studies with 1,004 participants. Findings suggested feasibility and acceptability, with more consistent improvements in clinical symptoms such as anxiety than in psychosocial, cognitive, or physiological outcomes.

Key takeaways

Staff training and supervision were implementation facilitators.
Technical problems and limited resources were common barriers.
The authors call for higher-quality trials and better implementation reporting.

Why this matters on shift

Nursing input can help teams evaluate whether a VR program is workable on an inpatient unit.

Bedside takeaway

Treat inpatient VR as an intervention requiring supervised implementation and evaluation.

Nursing implications

For an approved program, document patient experience, symptom response, supervision needs, and technical barriers.

Limitations & cautions

Abstract-only summary. This narrative synthesis does not establish a pooled treatment effect or definitive safety across diagnoses and VR applications.
AI-summarized from the linked source. Review the original article before applying to practice.

Citations · exact source links

Psychological medicine (PubMed). Applications and outcomes of virtual reality in inpatient psychiatry: A systematic review.

Open original sourceFull brief

AI-summarized from the linked source. Review the original article before applying to practice.

International journal of older people nursing (PubMed)Sep 1, 2026Systematic ReviewPractice applicable

A review of 15 randomized trials found very uncertain evidence for whether nurse-led case management changes institutionalization, hospital admission, or mortality among community-dwelling older adults.

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Systematic ReviewResearchWorkflowQuality ImprovementPractice applicableAI summary · original source linked below

The review included 7,995 older adults with frailty or risk of functional impairment. Pooled estimates suggested little to no difference in institutionalization, hospital admissions, or mortality, all with very low-certainty evidence; physical quality of life improved slightly (SMD 0.08, 95% CI 0.00-0.15) with moderate-certainty evidence, but the clinical importance was uncertain.

Key takeaways

Fifteen randomized trials with 7,995 community-dwelling older adults were included.
Evidence for institutionalization, hospital admissions, and mortality was very low certainty.
Nurse-led case management probably produced a slight improvement in physical quality of life.
The authors recommend evaluating patient-reported outcomes alongside healthcare utilization.

Why this matters on shift

Care coordination is often judged only by admissions or placement. This review suggests nurses and leaders should also measure outcomes older adults feel directly, while remaining honest that major utilization and survival benefits are not established.

Bedside takeaway

Track patient-reported quality of life and continuity alongside admissions; major outcome benefits remain uncertain.

Nursing implications

When participating in community case management, document the patient's own goals, function, quality of life, access barriers, and continuity needs in addition to emergency visits and admissions. Do not promise that coordination alone will prevent hospitalization or institutionalization.

Limitations & cautions

Certainty was very low for the major utilization and mortality outcomes, and the physical quality-of-life improvement was small with uncertain clinical importance. Programs and populations varied, so the review does not identify one case-management model that should be adopted universally.
AI-summarized from the linked source. Review the original article before applying to practice.

Citations · exact source links

International journal of older people nursing (PubMed). Effectiveness of Nurse-Led Case Management in Community Settings Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

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AI-summarized from the linked source. Review the original article before applying to practice.

BMC public health (PubMed)Aug 29, 2026Systematic ReviewPractice applicable

A systematic review of school-based programs in Africa found modest improvements in some weight-related outcomes, but the pooled effect on BMI-for-age was not statistically significant.

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Systematic ReviewResearchPatient EducationPractice applicableAI summary · original source linked below

Eleven studies met inclusion criteria, and nine intervention comparisons contributed to the BMI-for-age meta-analysis. Most programs combined physical activity with nutrition or other behavioral components. The pooled mean difference was 0.03 (95% CI -0.24 to 0.29; p = .813; I² = 69%), so the review did not establish an overall BMI-for-age benefit.

Key takeaways

The review included 11 studies, mostly from South Africa and mostly using quasi-experimental designs.
Most interventions were multicomponent and delivered in primary-school group settings.
Some studies reported modest adiposity improvements or maintenance of normal weight status.
Across nine comparisons, the pooled effect on BMI-for-age was not statistically significant and heterogeneity was substantial.

Why this matters on shift

School and pediatric nurses often reinforce nutrition and activity programs and help families interpret growth trends. The review supports cautious expectations: multicomponent programs may help selected outcomes, but current African evidence does not show a consistent pooled change in BMI-for-age.

Bedside takeaway

Set realistic expectations: school diet-and-activity programs may help some outcomes, but pooled BMI-for-age did not significantly change.

Nursing implications

Use the approved school or clinic health-promotion program, document participation and relevant growth measures, and explain that healthy routines have value even when a short-term BMI change is not guaranteed. Escalate individual growth or health concerns through the pediatric care pathway.

Limitations & cautions

Only 11 studies were included; 72.7% were conducted in South Africa and 70% were quasi-experimental. The pooled analysis was heterogeneous, and the findings may not generalize across African regions, school systems, or individual children.
AI-summarized from the linked source. Review the original article before applying to practice.

Citations · exact source links

BMC public health (PubMed). School-based diet and physical activity interventions and weight-related outcomes among children and adolescents in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Open original sourceFull brief

AI-summarized from the linked source. Review the original article before applying to practice.

How This Applies in Practice

Key takeaways

Practice implications

Limitations & cautions

Exact source links

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