Medical students' perceptions of the effectiveness of module study guides: a mixed-methods study in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: This mixed-methods study examined medical students' perceptions and satisfaction with module study guides (SGs) at the Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: Using a convergent parallel design, quantitative data were collected through structured surveys and qualitative insights through semi-structured focus groups, with both strands analyzed separately and then merged. Results: Of 490 eligible students, 255 (52%) participated, including 146 males (57.3%) and 109 females (42.7%); 95 (37.3%) were from preclinical years and 160 (62.7%) from clinical years. Overall, 111 students (43.5%) expressed satisfaction with the SGs. Students agreed that guides were available before modules (60.4%), contained clear objectives (48.2%), offered useful resources (46%) and assessment information (46%), and were easy to use (48%). Preclinical students were 2.5 times more likely to be satisfied as compared to clinical students (OR = 2.47, Conclusion: The study therefore recommends that, to better support student learning and engagement, SGs should be concise, more digitally accessible, and clearly aligned with session objectives and assessment needs.