Readiness for self-directed learning among undergraduate medical students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during COVID-19, Pakistan

Abstract Background The field of medical sciences has continuously been changing and evolving rapidly pertaining to the newly introduced practices and guidelines according to the principles of evidence-based medicine. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for the healthcare practitioners to keep the...

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Main Authors: Ejaz Hassan Khan, Ahsan Sethi, Syed Muhammad Junaid, Tania Khattak, Malghalara Khattak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:BMC Medical Education
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06745-3
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author Ejaz Hassan Khan
Ahsan Sethi
Syed Muhammad Junaid
Tania Khattak
Malghalara Khattak
author_facet Ejaz Hassan Khan
Ahsan Sethi
Syed Muhammad Junaid
Tania Khattak
Malghalara Khattak
author_sort Ejaz Hassan Khan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The field of medical sciences has continuously been changing and evolving rapidly pertaining to the newly introduced practices and guidelines according to the principles of evidence-based medicine. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for the healthcare practitioners to keep themselves updated and regulated through self-directed learning. Methodology A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the readiness of self-directed learning among undergraduate medical students. A total of 824 students participated both from public and private medical colleges of KPK. A self-reported validated SRSSDL scale was used to obtain data. The perception of public and private medical colleges students was compared and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Differences in SDL mean scores of student groups were analyzed through independent sample t-test for groups having two categories (e.g. gender, medical college setting etc.). Mean scores of all the five academic years were compared using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The levels of SDL readiness (e.g. good, average, poor) were cross tabulated with gender, medical college setting and academic years categories by using Chi-square test. the p – value was set at 0.05. Results The self-rated scale for SDL readiness among undergraduate medical students showed a mean score of 226.91 ± 30.074 (Minimum score = 81, Maximum score = 300) with a range of 219. On the whole, among 824 students, 61.3% of students reported good readiness for self-directed learning, 38.2% average readiness. Students enrolled in private medical colleges were more likely to report good readiness for SDL (58.4%) compared to those enrolled in public sector medical colleges (41.6%). Conclusion The findings of this vast survey suggest that overall undergraduate medical students are ready for self-directed learning in their prevailing circumstances at undergraduate medical education. It also finds that students enrolled in private medical colleges are more likely to be ready for self-directed learning than those studying in public medical colleges. However, further research with qualitative analysis and longitudnal designs is recomended to explore factors promoting or preventing self directed learning.
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spelling doaj-art-815a3ed2280a47549e41223223abcf752025-02-02T12:29:38ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202025-02-0125111210.1186/s12909-025-06745-3Readiness for self-directed learning among undergraduate medical students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during COVID-19, PakistanEjaz Hassan Khan0Ahsan Sethi1Syed Muhammad Junaid2Tania Khattak3Malghalara Khattak4Gandhara UniversityCollege of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar UniversityGandhara UniversityNowshera Medical CollegeFauji Foundation UniversityAbstract Background The field of medical sciences has continuously been changing and evolving rapidly pertaining to the newly introduced practices and guidelines according to the principles of evidence-based medicine. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for the healthcare practitioners to keep themselves updated and regulated through self-directed learning. Methodology A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the readiness of self-directed learning among undergraduate medical students. A total of 824 students participated both from public and private medical colleges of KPK. A self-reported validated SRSSDL scale was used to obtain data. The perception of public and private medical colleges students was compared and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Differences in SDL mean scores of student groups were analyzed through independent sample t-test for groups having two categories (e.g. gender, medical college setting etc.). Mean scores of all the five academic years were compared using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The levels of SDL readiness (e.g. good, average, poor) were cross tabulated with gender, medical college setting and academic years categories by using Chi-square test. the p – value was set at 0.05. Results The self-rated scale for SDL readiness among undergraduate medical students showed a mean score of 226.91 ± 30.074 (Minimum score = 81, Maximum score = 300) with a range of 219. On the whole, among 824 students, 61.3% of students reported good readiness for self-directed learning, 38.2% average readiness. Students enrolled in private medical colleges were more likely to report good readiness for SDL (58.4%) compared to those enrolled in public sector medical colleges (41.6%). Conclusion The findings of this vast survey suggest that overall undergraduate medical students are ready for self-directed learning in their prevailing circumstances at undergraduate medical education. It also finds that students enrolled in private medical colleges are more likely to be ready for self-directed learning than those studying in public medical colleges. However, further research with qualitative analysis and longitudnal designs is recomended to explore factors promoting or preventing self directed learning.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06745-3StudentsMedicalCross-sectional studiesSelf report educationMedicalUndergraduate
spellingShingle Ejaz Hassan Khan
Ahsan Sethi
Syed Muhammad Junaid
Tania Khattak
Malghalara Khattak
Readiness for self-directed learning among undergraduate medical students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during COVID-19, Pakistan
BMC Medical Education
Students
Medical
Cross-sectional studies
Self report education
Medical
Undergraduate
title Readiness for self-directed learning among undergraduate medical students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during COVID-19, Pakistan
title_full Readiness for self-directed learning among undergraduate medical students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during COVID-19, Pakistan
title_fullStr Readiness for self-directed learning among undergraduate medical students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during COVID-19, Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Readiness for self-directed learning among undergraduate medical students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during COVID-19, Pakistan
title_short Readiness for self-directed learning among undergraduate medical students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during COVID-19, Pakistan
title_sort readiness for self directed learning among undergraduate medical students in khyber pakhtunkhwa during covid 19 pakistan
topic Students
Medical
Cross-sectional studies
Self report education
Medical
Undergraduate
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06745-3
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