Evaluation of Effectiveness of an Online Selfdirected Learning Programme in Biochemistry for First Year Medical Undergraduate Students: A Quasi-experimental Study

Introduction: Self-directed Learning (SDL) has been suggested as a principle of adult learning to promote lifelong learning abilities among students. Though SDL is not a new concept, there is a lack of uniform implementation across the institutions in India. The Competency-based Medical Education (C...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Maitreyee Doijode Satyanarayan, Shivashankara Arnadi Ramachandrayya, Malathi Mala
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2024-02-01
Series:Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/19056/65819_CE[Ra1]_F(KR)_QC(SHK_RDW_IS)_PF1(AG_SHU)_PFA(AG_KM)_PN(KM).pdf
_version_ 1797319167234277376
author Maitreyee Doijode Satyanarayan
Shivashankara Arnadi Ramachandrayya
Malathi Mala
author_facet Maitreyee Doijode Satyanarayan
Shivashankara Arnadi Ramachandrayya
Malathi Mala
author_sort Maitreyee Doijode Satyanarayan
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Self-directed Learning (SDL) has been suggested as a principle of adult learning to promote lifelong learning abilities among students. Though SDL is not a new concept, there is a lack of uniform implementation across the institutions in India. The Competency-based Medical Education (CBME) proposed by the National Medical Commission in 2019 has emphasised SDL for medical students. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of an online, case-based SDL activity in Biochemistry for the first-year MBBS students. Materials and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study conducted at Father Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India from May to July 2021. A purposive sampling technique was used, and 138 first-year MBBS students were enrolled for the research. The topic of lipid metabolism was chosen for SDL. Parallel to the online didactic lectures, a case-based, team-based, online SDL was implemented. Students were provided with case scenarios and were instructed to discuss the case scenarios and find answers to the accompanying questions in allotted groups for 15 days. A three-hour session was held for the presentation of the SDL, followed by a post-test and reflections of students. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. The significance of the difference in pretest and post-test scores was assessed by paired t-test, and the level of significance was set at a p-value <0.05. Qualitative data were subjected to descriptive statistics, and thematic analysis of reflections was conducted. Results: The average post-test score of the participants was significantly higher by 99.3% compared to the pretest score (p-value <0.001). On average, 108 out of 138 (78.2%) agreed (agree/strongly agree) that SDL helped them to achieve the learning objectives,115 (83.3%) agreed that SDL helped them to develop as lifelong learners, 115 (83.3%) agreed that SDL helped them to develop as a health professional, and 83 (60.1%) agreed that enjoyed learning in online mode. The inclination of 110 (79.7%) students to have more SDL sessions in the future shows a behavioural change in favour of SDL. Time constraints and internet connectivity were the main challenges. Conclusion: SDL was effective and was received positively by the majority of the students. It is the need of the hour to develop lifelong learning and critical thinking among medical students and to make learning interesting with the use of case scenarios. Future research should assess the intermediate and long-term outcomes of case-based SDL on learning, behavioural changes, and its impact on patient care and the health of society.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T04:02:56Z
format Article
id doaj.art-b98ff22f671b44c7a1efec30bfb48e55
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2249-782X
0973-709X
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T04:02:56Z
publishDate 2024-02-01
publisher JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
record_format Article
series Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
spelling doaj.art-b98ff22f671b44c7a1efec30bfb48e552024-02-09T11:23:20ZengJCDR Research and Publications Private LimitedJournal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research2249-782X0973-709X2024-02-011802101510.7860/JCDR/2024/65819.19056Evaluation of Effectiveness of an Online Selfdirected Learning Programme in Biochemistry for First Year Medical Undergraduate Students: A Quasi-experimental StudyMaitreyee Doijode Satyanarayan0Shivashankara Arnadi Ramachandrayya1Malathi Mala2Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Father Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India.Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Father Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India.Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Father Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India.Introduction: Self-directed Learning (SDL) has been suggested as a principle of adult learning to promote lifelong learning abilities among students. Though SDL is not a new concept, there is a lack of uniform implementation across the institutions in India. The Competency-based Medical Education (CBME) proposed by the National Medical Commission in 2019 has emphasised SDL for medical students. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of an online, case-based SDL activity in Biochemistry for the first-year MBBS students. Materials and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study conducted at Father Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India from May to July 2021. A purposive sampling technique was used, and 138 first-year MBBS students were enrolled for the research. The topic of lipid metabolism was chosen for SDL. Parallel to the online didactic lectures, a case-based, team-based, online SDL was implemented. Students were provided with case scenarios and were instructed to discuss the case scenarios and find answers to the accompanying questions in allotted groups for 15 days. A three-hour session was held for the presentation of the SDL, followed by a post-test and reflections of students. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. The significance of the difference in pretest and post-test scores was assessed by paired t-test, and the level of significance was set at a p-value <0.05. Qualitative data were subjected to descriptive statistics, and thematic analysis of reflections was conducted. Results: The average post-test score of the participants was significantly higher by 99.3% compared to the pretest score (p-value <0.001). On average, 108 out of 138 (78.2%) agreed (agree/strongly agree) that SDL helped them to achieve the learning objectives,115 (83.3%) agreed that SDL helped them to develop as lifelong learners, 115 (83.3%) agreed that SDL helped them to develop as a health professional, and 83 (60.1%) agreed that enjoyed learning in online mode. The inclination of 110 (79.7%) students to have more SDL sessions in the future shows a behavioural change in favour of SDL. Time constraints and internet connectivity were the main challenges. Conclusion: SDL was effective and was received positively by the majority of the students. It is the need of the hour to develop lifelong learning and critical thinking among medical students and to make learning interesting with the use of case scenarios. Future research should assess the intermediate and long-term outcomes of case-based SDL on learning, behavioural changes, and its impact on patient care and the health of society.https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/19056/65819_CE[Ra1]_F(KR)_QC(SHK_RDW_IS)_PF1(AG_SHU)_PFA(AG_KM)_PN(KM).pdfcompetencycritical thinkinggroup dynamicslifelong learningself-learning
spellingShingle Maitreyee Doijode Satyanarayan
Shivashankara Arnadi Ramachandrayya
Malathi Mala
Evaluation of Effectiveness of an Online Selfdirected Learning Programme in Biochemistry for First Year Medical Undergraduate Students: A Quasi-experimental Study
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
competency
critical thinking
group dynamics
lifelong learning
self-learning
title Evaluation of Effectiveness of an Online Selfdirected Learning Programme in Biochemistry for First Year Medical Undergraduate Students: A Quasi-experimental Study
title_full Evaluation of Effectiveness of an Online Selfdirected Learning Programme in Biochemistry for First Year Medical Undergraduate Students: A Quasi-experimental Study
title_fullStr Evaluation of Effectiveness of an Online Selfdirected Learning Programme in Biochemistry for First Year Medical Undergraduate Students: A Quasi-experimental Study
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Effectiveness of an Online Selfdirected Learning Programme in Biochemistry for First Year Medical Undergraduate Students: A Quasi-experimental Study
title_short Evaluation of Effectiveness of an Online Selfdirected Learning Programme in Biochemistry for First Year Medical Undergraduate Students: A Quasi-experimental Study
title_sort evaluation of effectiveness of an online selfdirected learning programme in biochemistry for first year medical undergraduate students a quasi experimental study
topic competency
critical thinking
group dynamics
lifelong learning
self-learning
url https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/19056/65819_CE[Ra1]_F(KR)_QC(SHK_RDW_IS)_PF1(AG_SHU)_PFA(AG_KM)_PN(KM).pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT maitreyeedoijodesatyanarayan evaluationofeffectivenessofanonlineselfdirectedlearningprogrammeinbiochemistryforfirstyearmedicalundergraduatestudentsaquasiexperimentalstudy
AT shivashankaraarnadiramachandrayya evaluationofeffectivenessofanonlineselfdirectedlearningprogrammeinbiochemistryforfirstyearmedicalundergraduatestudentsaquasiexperimentalstudy
AT malathimala evaluationofeffectivenessofanonlineselfdirectedlearningprogrammeinbiochemistryforfirstyearmedicalundergraduatestudentsaquasiexperimentalstudy