The effects of problem-based learning (PBL) on undergraduate medical students’ critical thinking and communication skills development: A scoping review across resource-rich and resource-limited settings (2015–2024)

Bruce Ayabilla Abugri; Maxwell Ateni Assibi; Anthony Amalba; Patience Kanyiri Gaa; Sophia E.A. Kpebu; Patience Afua Adwaapa Karikari; Victor Mogre

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0342599

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Open Access

Peer-reviewed

Research Article

The effects of problem-based learning (PBL) on undergraduate medical students’ critical thinking and communication skills development: A scoping review across resource-rich and resource-limited settings (2015–2024)

Bruce Ayabilla Abugri,

Roles Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Resources, Writing – original draft

Affiliation Department of Health Professions Education and Innovative Learning, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9437-3707

⨯
Maxwell Ateni Assibi,

Roles Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Department of Health Professions Education and Innovative Learning, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
⨯
Anthony Amalba,

Roles Conceptualization, Supervision, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
⨯
Patience Kanyiri Gaa,

Roles Resources, Supervision, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Department of Dietetics, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
⨯
Sophia E.A. Kpebu,

Roles Supervision, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Department of Health Professions Education and Innovative Learning, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
⨯
Patience Afua Adwaapa Karikari,

Roles Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Department of Health Professions Education and Innovative Learning, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
⨯
Victor Mogre

Roles Conceptualization, Supervision, Writing – review & editing

* E-mail: vmogre@uds.edu.gh

Affiliation Department of Health Professions Education and Innovative Learning, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
⨯

The effects of problem-based learning (PBL) on undergraduate medical students’ critical thinking and communication skills development: A scoping review across resource-rich and resource-limited settings (2015–2024)

Bruce Ayabilla Abugri,
Maxwell Ateni Assibi,
Anthony Amalba,
Patience Kanyiri Gaa,
Sophia E.A. Kpebu,
Patience Afua Adwaapa Karikari,
Victor Mogre

Published: February 13, 2026
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0342599

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