title: The effect of problem-based learning on students' approaches to learning in the context of clinical nursing education.
abstract: The effect of problem-based learning (PBL) on nursing students' approaches to learning has received scanty attention in nursing education. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of PBL on students' approaches to learning in clinical nursing education. Using a one-group before-after quasi-experimental design, the revised two-factor Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) was administered to compare students' approaches to learning before and after a period of clinical education in which PBL was implemented. Focus group interviews were used to elicit from students their PBL experience. Of the 237 students who participated in the study, 187 returned the R-SPQ-2F, representing a response rate of 78.9%. Twenty-eight of the students also participated in focus group interviews. The R-SPQ-2F scores indicated that for the deep approach to learning, the post-test mean score was noticeably higher than that at the pre-test (p=0.005). No significant difference was observed between the pre-test and post-test mean scores for the surface approach to learning (p>or=0.05). The four themes inductively derived from students' descriptions of their clinical education experience (motivated to learn; self-direction in learning; active, interactive and student-centred learning; and enjoyment in learning) also suggested that the students adopted a deep approach to learning during a period of clinical education in which PBL was implemented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Studies, The University of Hong Kong, 4/F, William MW Mong Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Emmy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chui
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Niv
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011588:Psychology, Educational; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires