title: Self-directed learning readiness among fifth semester MBBS students in a teaching institution of South India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lifelong learning is a skill that must be acquired by medical graduates and proposes that students take the responsibility for learning process. The present study was carried out to measure readiness for self-directed learning among fifth semester MBBS studentsin a tertiary care teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Readiness assessment was carried out among 87 fifth semester MBBS students using Fishers' 40-item self-directed learning readiness score (SDLRS) instrument after taking informed written consent. A total of 40 items were classified into three domains: Self-management (9 items), desire for learning (16 items) and self-control (15 items). Institute scientific society and ethical committee clearance was obtained. The data were entered and analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 21. Chi-square test was used to elicit relationship between readiness assessment and gender, presence of a physician in family and area of residence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 87 students, 64 (73.5%) students consented to be assessed for readiness toward self-directed learning. The mean SDLRS score was 140.4 ± 24.4, with 19 students (30%) scoring more than 150 indicating high readiness.The mean scores in the three domains of self-management, desire for learning and self-control were 38.8 ± 9.8, 47.3 ± 6.9 and 54.3 ± 10.4, respectively. Males had a higher readiness for self-directed learning than females (P = 0.045).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-directed learning scores were lower among our MBBS students than reported elsewhere in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Preventive and Social Medicine, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Sitanshu Sekhar
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kar
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Premarajan
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramalingam
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iswarya
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sujiv
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Subitha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult