title: Learning styles and academic achievement among undergraduate medical students in Thailand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to explore the associations between learning styles and high academic achievement and to ascertain whether the factors associated with high academic achievement differed between preclinical and clinical students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted among undergraduate medical students in Chiang Mai University, Thailand. The Index of Learning Styles questionnaire was used to assess each student's learning style across four domains. High academic achievement was defined as a grade point average of at least 3.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1,248 eligible medical students, 1,014 (81.3%) participated. Learning styles differed between the preclinical and clinical students in the active/reflective domain. A sequential learning style was associated with high academic achievement in both preclinical and clinical students. A reflective learning style was only associated with high academic achievement among preclinical students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association between learning styles and academic achievement may have differed between preclinical and clinical students due to different learning content and teaching methods. Students should be encouraged to be flexible in their own learning styles in order to engage successfully with various and changing teaching methods across the curriculum. Instructors should be also encouraged to provide a variety of teaching materials and resources to suit different learning styles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Wichuda
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8131-6474
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiraporncharoen
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Chaisiri
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4206-9164
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angkurawaranon
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Manoch
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0426-5463
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chockjamsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Athavudh
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1375-4541
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deesomchok
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Juntima
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1132-6543
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Euathrongchit
keywords: Curriculum; Educational status; Medical students; Teaching materials; Thailand