Study guides improves self-learning skills in clinical endocrinology

Dear Sir

Active engagement with experiences is essential for effective learning. In a constantly changing environment, medical students, as adult learners are responsible for their learning not only for survival, but also for further development. To be a lifelong learner, medical students need effective tools that promote critical thinking (Dickson 2005). Study guides assist learners to interact with various components of the curriculum. Unlike textbooks which emphasize solely on the content, the main purpose of these study guides is facilitation of learning by providing core information, determining learning activities, and managing students learning on the topic (Holsgrove 1998).

We have compared the effect of study guides on improving self-learning skills of medical students in clinical endocrinology course. Forty-six subjects were randomly assigned into two groups: the intervention and the control groups.

Both groups were asked to sit for a diagnosis test at the beginning of the course. The same test was taken at the end of the course. The intervention group was provided with study guides on thyroid disorders and diabetes while they continued routine clinical training, as well, but the control group was only involved in the conventional training program. Students in the intervention group were also asked to complete a questionnaire asking about their attitude towards the guides.

At enrollment, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. At the end of the course, it was shown that the performance of the trainees in the intervention group was considerably better than that of the control group.

Regarding students attitude, the majority of them showed a positive attitude towards the guides and they were willing to recommend the use of study guides to their peers as an effective self-learning tool.

In conclusion, the study guides were potentially effective on motivating self-learning skills in this group of medical students in clinical endocrinology course.