SynthesisBMC medical education2025
Self-directed learning versus traditional didactic learning in undergraduate medical education: a systemic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC medical education, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed.
- Randomized comparison of gamified mobile app-based training versus conventional learning for pneumothorax detection in chest radiographs.BMC medical education · 2026Trial
- E-Learning Modules Based on Bloom Taxonomy and the Miller Pyramid for First-Year Indian Medical Students: Randomized Controlled Study in Medical Education.JMIR human factors · 2026Trial
- Relationship Between Inspirational Teaching and Self-Directed Learning in Health Professions Students-A Mixed-Method Study.European journal of dental education : official journal of the Association for Dental Education in Europe · 2026Article
- Long-term impact of anesthesiologist-led active learning on dental students' clinical autonomy in medical risk management and patient safety: a 12-month prospective cohort study.BMC medical education · 2026Article
- Impact of a research methodology course emphasizing critical appraisal skills on dental students' clinical decision-making self-efficacy: a single-arm educational intervention.BMC medical education · 2026Article
- Article
- Blended and digital approaches in histology and pathology teaching: A scoping review.Anatomical sciences education · 2026Article
- An Empirical Approach to Curriculum Mapping in Traditional Kampo Medicine Education in Japan: Practical Methodological Study.JMIR formative research · 2026Article
- Evaluating Study Techniques for Australian Medical Students During Clinical Placement: A Scoping Review.Cureus · 2026Review
- All talk, little action: A scoping review mapping lifelong learning education strategies in postgraduate medical education.Journal of the colleges of medicine of South Africa · 2026Review
- Innovating transfusion training: a BOPPPS-based blended learning model to enhance nursing interns' specialized competency.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Implementing and evaluating an integrated self-directed learning method for 1Journal of education and health promotion · 2026Article
- Article
- Distance learning on breastfeeding for residents in pediatrics.European journal of pediatrics · 2025Observational
- A Comparative Analysis of Self-Directed Learning and the Jigsaw Method in Medical Physiology Education.Cureus · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSelf-Directed Learning (SDL) is a theory of andragogy in which adult learners take their own initiative to identify and tailor their individual learning process and outcomes. In undergraduate medical education, SDL aims to develop medical students into lifelong learners. This study aims to estimate the overall effectiveness of self-directed learning compared to traditional didactic learning (TDL).
methodsWe performed a systematic review and meta-analysis according to the PRISMA statement. A systematic search was used across PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Google Scholar to identify peer-reviewed articles spanning from January 1, 2014, to May 30, 2024. Key words used were "self-directed learning" AND "undergraduate medical education." Forest plots were generated with the Open Meta-analyst Software, comparing SDL and TDL.
resultsA total of 2,955 titles and abstracts were screened for eligibility, of which 95 articles met the eligibility criteria for full-text review. Following a more detailed screening, 19 articles met the criteria for inclusion in the systematic review and 14 articles met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The systematic review included 2,098 students while the meta-analysis included 1,792 students. The overall mean difference for all studies was 2.399, 95% CI [0.121-4.678], and I
conclusionSelf-directed learning compared to traditional didactic learning is an effective learning strategy in medical undergraduate education and has the potential to aid in students' learning and improve their cognitive performance. Moreover, SDL nurtures qualities such as autonomy, curiosity, and self-regulation, which are essential for success in the ever-evolving field of medicine.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.