Physicians' preferred learning methods and sources of information do self-identified independent learners differ from course participants?

Abstract

To determine whether self-identified independent learners differed significantly from their colleagues regarding preferred learning methods or sources of information, this study assessed physicians who scheduled independent learning activities through the Office of Continuing Medical Education and physicians who attended a traditional CME refresher course. Both groups rated learning methods similarly, scored the same on an adapted version of Stone's Preferred Learning Style Index and rated information sources similarly When asked about time spent in patient-related activities, time spent on-call and time spent in leisure activities, the groups differed somewhat in terms of how preferred learning methods and sources of information related to the time variables. The authors suggest that future researchers explore learning style in relation to the content to be learned, rather than as a global construct.