Impact of individualized learning plans on United States senior medical students advanced clinical rotations.

Amalia Guardiola,Emma A Omoruyi,Michelle S Barratt

doi:10.3352/jeehp.2016.13.39

Abstract

The individualized learning plan (ILP) is a tool that promotes self-directed learning. The aim of this pilot study was to look at the perception of the ILPs in United States senior medical school students as a way to improve their learning experience during their advanced practice clerkship. We conducted a survey of graduating medical students that contained both quantitative and open-ended questions regarding the students’ experiences with the ILP during their advanced practice clerkship from July 2014 to March 2016. We systematically identified and compiled themes among the qualitative responses. Responses from 294 out of 460 subjects were included for analysis (63.9%). Ninety students (30.6%) reported that the ILP was definitely reviewed at the midpoint and 88 (29.9%) at the final evaluation. One hundred sixty one students (54.8%) felt the ILP provided a framework for learning. One hundred sixty one students (61.6%) felt it was a useful tool in helping open a discussion between the student and faculty. The qualitative data was grouped by areas most mentioned and these areas of concern centered on lack of faculty knowledge about ILP, time to complete ILP, and uncertainty of appropriate goal setting. The majority of students perceive the ILP to be helpful. Our results suggest that active intervention is needed by dedicated and trained faculty to improve ILP utilization. It is recommended that faculty gives students examples of learning goals to create their own learning framework and encourages them to discuss and review the ILP.

Highlights

The individualized learning plan (ILP) is a tool that promotes self-directed learning
Goal setting is a bridge between self-assessment and action lifelong learning, which allows medical students and residents to continue to grow during school, training and practice [1]
An individualized learning plan (ILP) is a personal learning ‘contract’ that a learner develops based on their own reflection and self-assessment of the goals they want to attain over a certain period of time

Summary

Introduction

The individualized learning plan (ILP) is a tool that promotes self-directed learning. The use of ILPs in medical student clinical rotations has not been studied extensively. 2016 in McGovern Medical School, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA where students begin their clinical rotations during their third year and in their senior year completed a required 4th year advanc ed practice clerkship (APC) that can be done in either pediatrics, internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, emergency medicine, general surgery, psychiatry, or a subspecialty surgical field.

Results

Conclusion