What Do Pediatric Subinterns Say About Their Learning and Assessment? A Qualitative Analysis of Individual Learning Plans

Janice L. Hanson*, Cynthia Christy, Daxa Clarke, Cori M. Green, T. J. Jirasevijinda, Amal Khidir, Terry Kind, Leonard Levine, Caroline R. Paul, Makia Powers, Mary Esther M. Rocha, Sandra M. Sanguino, Jocelyn Schiller, Rebecca Tenney-Soeiro, Jennifer L. Trainor, Linda R. Tewksbury

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To perform a qualitative content analysis of learning and assessment strategies that pediatric subinterns describe in Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs) and to explore barriers and facilitators to their learning. Methods: We analyzed ILPs from medical students enrolled in pediatric subinternships at 10 US medical schools that utilized a standardized curriculum and were recruited to reflect diversity in geographic location, funding, and enrollment. Students used an ILP to record 3 or more selected learning objectives, rationale for selection, and reflection on learning and assessment strategies. Investigators used the constant comparative method to perform a content analysis of the ILPs, grouping codes into themes, and verifying relationships between codes within themes. Results: Two hundred and four ILPs that included student reflections on 850 learning objectives were analyzed. Content was analyzed in 5 categories: rationale for selecting objectives, learning strategies, assessment strategies, challenges to learning, and facilitators of learning. Students showed strong commitment to individualized, self-directed learning, developed a wide range of creative learning strategies, and relied heavily on self-reflection to assess their progress. The learning environment both helped and hindered students’ ability to make and assess progress on their selected learning objectives. Conclusions: Through ILP-guided reflection and a formal curriculum, students can choose well-justified learning objectives and demonstrate resourcefulness and independence in developing self-directed learning and assessment strategies. The strategies that students identified in this study provide a menu of learning and assessment options for subinterns. Identified challenges and facilitators of learning provide guidance for educators who seek to enhance the clinical learning environment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)359-368
Number of pages10
JournalAcademic Pediatrics
Volume24
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2024

Funding

The authors would like to thank Lyuba Konopasek, MD, Senior Associate Dean for Education at the Frank H. Netter, MD, School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, for coleading the development of the COMSEP/APPD Sub-Internship Curriculum, and for her important contributions to early discussions about the design of this study.

Keywords

  • individual learning plans
  • medical students
  • self-directed learning
  • subinternship
  • undergraduate medical education

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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