COMPARISON OF LEARNING STYLES AMONG POST GRADUATE RESIDENTS AND FULL TIME SPECIALTY CLINICIANS PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATIONAL DEGREE

Abstract

Objective: To compare the different learning style preferences among full time specialty clinicians and post graduate residents. Study Design: Comparative - cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Lahore medical and dental college Lahore, from Jan 2018 to Jun 2018. Material and Methods: Participants were recruited through sampling. Informed consent was obtained. Participants were divided into two groups; post graduate residents and full time specialty clinicians currently enrolled in a higher education degree program. Self administered questionnaire including basic demographic data and Honey and Mumford learning style questionnaire was distributed. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: There were 70 participants, 40 residents and 30 consultants. Mean age ± SD for consultants was 46.53 ± 7.02 and 27.63 ± 7.02 for residents. There were 45 males and 25 females. Average weekly study hours for consultants was 12.67 hrs and for residents 11.13 hrs (p=0.741). 96.7% consultants while 75.7% residents used internet. Self study was utilized by 90% consultants and 62.25% (p=0.009) of residents. All consultants managed time by scheduling, time anagement, weekends, late nights, leaves, early mornings and peer assisted. 72.5% of residents did not use any strategy for time. Majority of both groups had more than one learning style. Learning style combination of consultant was Reflector theorist (56.7%), reflector pragmatist (16.7%), activist pragmatist (10%) and activist reflector (13.3%) while learning style combination of residents was activist theorist and activist reflector 22.5% each, reflector theorist 27.5% and reflector pragmatist 12.5% (p=0.023). Conclusion: Consultants had a much better learning style and better time management strategies for improved learning.

Keywords

• health care providers
• health professions
• learning styles
• medical education