Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41370244›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Contextual validation of HEMLEM tool used for measuring clinical micro-learning environments.

Khizar Ansar Malik, Ayesha Fahim, Abeer Anjum, Saira Khalid, Shafaq Malik, Ahsan Sethi

Erratum issuedAbstract readValidation Study
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Khizar Ansar MalikDepartment of Medical Education, Azra Naheed Medical College, Superior University, Lahore, Pakistan.
Ayesha FahimDepartment of Oral Biology, Islamic International Dental College, RIPHAH International University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Abeer AnjumDepartment of Medical Education, Khawaja Muhammad Safdar Medical College, Sialkot, Pakistan.
Saira KhalidCMH Lahore Medical College, National University of Medical Sciences, Pakistan.
Shafaq MalikMHPE Student, RIPHAH International University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Ahsan SethiHealth Professions Education, Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9176-3254

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveA positive clinical learning environment is essential for the professional development of medical and dental students. The Healthcare Education Micro Learning Environment Measure (HEMLEM) was originally developed in the UK but lacked cross-cultural validation, limiting its global applicability. This study aims to adapt and validate a revised version of HEMLEM (HEMLEM 2.0) in Pakistani medical and dental schools, with a focus on factorial structure, measurement invariance, and psychometric robustness. METHODOLOGY: The HEMLEM was culturally adapted and validated for content and face validity through expert assessments and pilot testing to evaluate Pakistani medical and dental institution's micro-learning environment. A subsequent cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the tool's construct validity and reliability using a sample population. Data was collected using a revised 12-item HEMLEM instrument administered via Google Forms. Descriptive statistics, including skewness and kurtosis, were calculated. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to compare one-factor, three-factor, and bifactor models. Measurement invariance was tested across gender and academic discipline (MBBS/BDS) using multi-group CFA. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega.

resultsA 20-expert panel assessed the content validity of HEMLEM tool, with an I-CVI score above 0.78 for each item and UA-CVI at 0.8. Ten items were revised based on feedback, forming HEMLEM 2.0. Construct validity was evaluated through responses from 628 Pakistani medical and dental students. The three-factor model of HEMLEM 2.0, comprising "Supervision," "Autonomy," and "Atmosphere," demonstrated good fit (CFI = 0.932, RMSEA = 0.081) and was preferred over the bifactor model due to theoretical parsimony. Full configural, metric, and scalar invariances were confirmed across both gender and discipline. Item-level skewness and kurtosis indicated acceptable normality. Reliability testing showed Cronbach's Alpha of 0.897, Omega coefficient of 0.929, and composite reliability of 0.901, indicating strong internal consistency.

conclusionHEMLEM 2.0 is a culturally adapted, psychometrically robust tool for assessing the clinical micro-learning environment in Pakistani healthcare education. Its strong validity and reliability support its use for quality improvement, curriculum evaluation, and educational research. Future studies should examine test-retest reliability, specialty-specific insights, and applicability in other low- and middle-income countries.

Indexed as

Education, DentalLearningAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMalePakistanPsychometricsReproducibility of ResultsStudents, DentalStudents, MedicalSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID41370244
PMCPMC12694844

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.