Original Research Paper
Learning styles of medical students
Authors:
Seema Daud ,
Department of Medical Education & Educational Research, PK
About Seema
Chairperson, Medical Education Committee
Head, Department of Community Medicine Director
Rootaba Kashif,
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, PK
About Rootaba
Senior Lecturer
Abdul Majeed Chaudhry
Department of Surgery Lahore Medical & Dental College, Lahore, PK
About Abdul Majeed
Principal & Head
Abstract
Introduction: Knowledge of learning styles of the students helps educators to address various needs of learners. Study objective was to determine learning styles of undergraduate medical students.
Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted at Lahore Medical & Dental College (LMDC), Lahore, between January and March 2011 among students from first to fourth year MBBS classes using an online VARK inventory. Additional information was obtained using a structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS version 16 computer package. Chi square test was applied for association and statistical significance was determined with p ≤0.05 as the cut-off point.
Results: Among the 338 study participants, 61% were females, 63% were between the age groups 20-23 years and 78% had done FSc. Each class representation was 1st year (26%), 2nd year (25%), 3rd year (29%) and 4th year (20%). Most students depicted multimodal learning style (69%). The preferred unimodal styles were aural (14%) and kinesthetic (12%). In different combinations, the favoured learning modes were kinesthetic (70%), read/write (60%), aural (57%) and visual (55%). Around 89% of ―A‖ level students, compared with 66% of those who had done FSc were multimodal (p=0.002). The preference for multiple learning modes increased with the transition from pre-clinical first and second years to the clinical third and fourth years (p= 0.006).
Conclusion: Medical students prefer multiple variety of information transfer. For a better impact, learning style diversity can be converted into appropriate teaching and learning methods that enable more students to attain success.
How to Cite:
Daud, S., Kashif, R. and Chaudhry, A.M., 2014. Learning styles of medical students. South-East Asian Journal of Medical Education, 8(1), pp.40–46. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/seajme.v8i1.123
Published on
23 Jun 2014.
Peer Reviewed
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