Self-Directed Learning Readiness among Undergraduate Students: Does it vary During the Phases of Medical Curriculum?

To meet the challenges in healthcare environment, self-directed learning (SDL) is most essential. There are no studies which analyzed SDL readiness across all the years of medical curriculum at a single point of time. This study was designed to assess the SDL readiness among undergraduate medical students of all years.

This is a cross-sectional questionnairebased study. After obtaining ethics committee approval and informed consent all undergraduate medical students who were willing to participate in the study were recruited. Questionnaire containing SDL readiness scale created by Fisher et al. was provided to the participants. Fisher scale consists of 40 items rated using 5-point Likert Scale. These 40 items are divided into three components namely-desire for learning, self-management and self-control. SDL readiness Score e”150 shows good readiness for SDL. Other additional demographic details were also collected from the participants.

Out of total 750 students, 462 responded (61.6%) in which 323 were females, 119 were males and 20 did not specify. Mean score of readiness for SDL is 144.08±20. Total of 193 students (41.7%) had high SDLR Score. No significant difference was found between total SDLR score between students of different years. The mean SDL score was significantly high in females compared to males. Score for the subdomain ‘desire for learning’ was significantly high in first years compared to third years (45.9±6.5 vs 43.9±8.2, p=0.02) and fourth years (45.9±6.5 vs 43.7±8, p=0.01).

SDLR was very low among undergraduate medical students and was found to decrease as the students pass each year.