Graduate-entry medical students' self-directed learning capabilities in a problem-based curriculum.
OBJECTIVE
To explore junior and senior students' perceptions of their self-directed learning (SDL) capabilities in an innovative graduate-entry medical program and to determine the construct reliability of the survey instrument utilized.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey design in which a self-report questionnaire was administered to undergraduate medical students (n=43) of King Saud bin Abdul Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh in October 2008 and March 2009; soon after entry and in their year 3 of an integrated problem-based learning (PBL) program. The questionnaire sought self-assessment on 14 SDL capabilities.


RESULTS
Questionnaire construct reliability was high (Cronbach's alpha=0.945). Respondents had medium to high perceptions of their self-directed learning capabilities in areas that are among the main building-blocks of self-directed learning. In comparison to junior students, senior students had statistically significantly higher mean scores on 11 of 14 self-assessed SDL competencies (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Consistent with other studies of SDL in a graduate-entry PBL curriculum, most students perceived themselves as having moderate to high SDL capabilities. Knowledge of learners' perceived levels of self-directedness is helpful for both students and medical educators. By understanding learners' conceptions of their self-directed learning capabilities we can design evidence-based program modifications that are likely to promote intended curriculum objectives. Longitudinal studies are needed observing the application and stability of perceived capabilities.
Elzubeir
Margaret A
MA
Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, PO Box 22490, Riyadh 11426, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. elzubeir44@yahoo.com
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires