%0 Journal Article %T Learning strategies of medical students in the surgery department, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia %A Alzahrani HA %A Alzahrani OH %J Advances in Medical Education and Practice %D 2012 %I %X Hasan A Alzahrani,1 Owiss H Alzahrani21Department of Surgery, 2Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaObjectives: To identify medical students' perceptions of their learning strategies including, learning habits, resources, and preferred teaching methods, in the Department of Surgery (DOS) of the King Abdulaziz University-Faculty of Medicine (KAU-FoM), in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study which was designed to identify students' perceptions of their learning in the DOS of the KAU-FoM. A questionnaire was administered to a random group of 549 medical students, to explore student perceptions of their learning strategies including methods of learning and learning resources.Results: The majority believed that clinical session attendance is always important compared with lectures (88.9% vs 21.9%). Nevertheless, clinical sessions were selected as the third source of learning after learning from assigned textbooks and previous examination model answers. The majority (74.1%) believed that self-instruction at home is the preferred method of learning.Conclusion: Student perspectives should be taken into consideration prior to any future reforms of curriculum. Reforms should adopt a ˇ°think globally; act locallyˇ± educational strategy based on learner needs.Keywords: education, medical, learning, surgery, developing countries %U http://www.dovepress.com/learning-strategies-of-medical-students-in-the-surgery-department-jedd-a10781