Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31860936›Full record

ArticleMedical education2020

Conceptualising spaced learning in health professions education: A scoping review.

Marjolein Versteeg, Renée A Hendriks, Aliki Thomas, Belinda W C Ommering, Paul Steendijk

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Medical education, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 34 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
34citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

34 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Systematic review of distributed practice and retrieval practice in health professions education.Advances in health sciences education : theory and practice · 2024
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  11. Spaced learning versus traditional learning for pharmacists implementing β-lactam therapeutic drug monitoring.American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Marjolein VersteegDepartment of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0003-0252-6025
Renée A HendriksCenter for Innovation In Medical Education, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-1932-6428
Aliki ThomasSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Montreal, Québec, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-9807-6609
Belinda W C OmmeringCenter for Innovation In Medical Education, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-8673-4923
Paul SteendijkDepartment of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-8454-4499

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo investigate the definitions and applications of 'spaced learning' and to propose future directions for advancing its study and practice in health professions education.

methodThe authors searched five online databases for articles published on spaced learning in health professions education prior to February 2018. Two researchers independently screened articles for eligibility with set inclusion criteria. They extracted and analysed key data using both quantitative and qualitative methods.

resultsOf the 2972 records retrieved, 120 articles were included in the review. More than 90% of these articles were published in the last 10 years. The definition of spaced learning varied widely and was often not theoretically grounded. Spaced learning was applied in distinct contexts, including online learning, simulation training and classroom settings. There was a large variety of spacing formats, ranging from dispersion of information or practice on a single day, to intervals lasting several months. Generally, spaced learning was implemented in practice or testing phases and rarely during teaching.

conclusionsSpaced learning is infrequently and poorly defined in the health professions education literature. We propose a comprehensive definition of spaced learning and emphasise that detailed descriptions of spacing formats are needed in future research to facilitate the operationalisation of spaced learning research and practice in health professions education.

Indexed as

Education, DistanceLearningHealth OccupationsHumansModels, Educational

Identifiers

PMID31860936
PMCPMC7064953

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.