title: Changes in self-directed learning readiness in dental students: a mixed-methods study.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify changes in dental students' self-directed learning (SDL) readiness during their education. Guglielmino's SDL readiness scale (SDLRS) was completed at admission by dental students at the University of Saskatchewan and at the end of each year of training. The response rates varied from year to year. Between twenty-seven and thirty students completed the questionnaire each year at admission (93-100 percent of the entering class). The numbers of participants were lower in succeeding years: numbers used for analysis ranged from eleven to twenty-six; years in which fewer than eleven students participated were not included in the analysis. At admission, the students' mean SDLRS score was 228.98 (on a scale from 58 to 290, with 290 the highest); this score was higher than that of the average adult population (214±25.59). There was no significant effect of years of predental education, prior unsuccessful applications to dental school, interview scores, age, or admission test scores. There was a significant drop in SDLRS scores at the end of the first year for most of the cohorts (p<0.001). In addition to the questionnaire part of the study, two instructors and five first- and second-year students participated in focus groups. Those results showed that the individuals defined SDL narrowly and had similar perceptions of curricular factors that affect SDL readiness. The drop in scores one year after admission and lack of change with increased training suggests that current educational interventions may require re-examination and alteration to those that promote self-direction.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Premkumar is Associate Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Dr. Pahwa is Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Ms. Banerjee received a Master's degree from the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Dr. Baptiste is a medical resident, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Mr. Bhatt is a Biostatistician, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; and Dr. Lim is Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada. kalyani.premkumar@usask.ca.
authors.forename: Kalyani
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Premkumar
authors.affiliation: Dr. Premkumar is Associate Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Dr. Pahwa is Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Ms. Banerjee received a Master's degree from the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Dr. Baptiste is a medical resident, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Mr. Bhatt is a Biostatistician, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; and Dr. Lim is Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: Punam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pahwa
authors.affiliation: Dr. Premkumar is Associate Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Dr. Pahwa is Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Ms. Banerjee received a Master's degree from the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Dr. Baptiste is a medical resident, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Mr. Bhatt is a Biostatistician, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; and Dr. Lim is Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: Ankona
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.affiliation: Dr. Premkumar is Associate Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Dr. Pahwa is Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Ms. Banerjee received a Master's degree from the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Dr. Baptiste is a medical resident, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Mr. Bhatt is a Biostatistician, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; and Dr. Lim is Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: Kellen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baptiste
authors.affiliation: Dr. Premkumar is Associate Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Dr. Pahwa is Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Ms. Banerjee received a Master's degree from the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Dr. Baptiste is a medical resident, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Mr. Bhatt is a Biostatistician, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; and Dr. Lim is Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: Hitesh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bhatt
authors.affiliation: Dr. Premkumar is Associate Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Dr. Pahwa is Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Ms. Banerjee received a Master's degree from the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Dr. Baptiste is a medical resident, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Mr. Bhatt is a Biostatistician, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; and Dr. Lim is Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: Hyun J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001077:Aptitude Tests; D001290:Attitude; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003099:College Admission Test; D003405:Creativity; D004497:Education, Dental; D004515:Education, Predental; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007858:Learning; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011340:Problem Solving; D012525:Saskatchewan; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D012649:Self Concept; D013335:Students, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013850:Thinking
keywords: dental education; dental students; educational measurement; self-directed learning