Exploring the link of personality traits and tutors’ instruction on critical thinking disposition: a cross-sectional study among Chinese medical graduate students

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the associations between critical thinking (CT) disposition and personal characteristics and tutors’ guidance among medical graduate students, which may provide a theoretical basis for cultivating CT.Design A cross-sectional study was conducted.Setting This study was conducted in Sichuan and Chongqing from November to December 2021.Participants A total of 1488 graduate students from clinical medical schools were included in this study.Data analysis The distribution of the study participants’ underlying characteristics and CT was described and tested. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between each factor and the CT score. The independent risk factors for CT were assessed using a logistic regression model.Results The average total CT score was 81.79±11.42 points, and the proportion of CT (score ≥72 points) was 78.9% (1174/1488). Female sex (OR 1.405, 95% CI 1.042 to 1.895), curiosity (OR 1.847, 95% CI 1.459 to 2.338), completion of scientific research design with reference (OR 1.779, 95% CI 1.460 to 2.167), asking ‘why’ (OR 1.942, 95% CI 1.508 to 2.501) and team members’ logical thinking ability (OR 1.373, 95% CI 1.122 to 1.681) were positively associated with CT while exhaustion and burn-out (OR 0.721, 95% CI 0.526 to 0.989), inattention (OR 0.572, 95% CI 0.431 to 0.759), Following others’ opinions in decision-making (OR 0.425, 95% CI 0.337 to 0.534) and no allow of doubt to tutors (OR 0.674, 95% CI 0.561 to 0.809) had negative associations with the formation of CT disposition in the fully adjusted model.Conclusions Factors associated with motivation and internal drive are more important in the educational practice of cultivating CT. Educators should change the reward mechanism from result-oriented to motivation-maintaining to cultivate students’ CT awareness.