How and Why Do Junior Doctors Study? What Materials Do They Use?

Context. Junior doctors studying for exams need reliable information close at hand. Objectives. We set out to understand the resources junior doctors use to study and revise. Methods. A questionnaire was circulated to junior hospital doctors within a single UK deanery sitting membership examinations, asking what motivates them to study, what resources they use to learn and revise, and what qualities they look for in the ideal learning and revision resource. Findings. We received a 70% response to the questionnaire (140 out of 200 doctors) and found that nearly all doctors are motivated to study by examinations (95%, ) and by patients they look after on the wards (73%, ). Their ideal learning resources comprise case-based learning (64%, ). They use textbooks at least as much as online resources and learn directly from their seniors. Discussion and Conclusion. To tailor learning and revision resources for junior doctors we need nationwide research on how they learn and revise. This study supports the development of reliable case-based learning material in print and, and the collaboration of educators and junior doctors who have clear ideas about the resources they want to use. 1. Context Much has been written about the increasing popularity of online learning amongst medical students and junior doctors and the potential for web-based interactive medical teaching. We know that doctors are more likely to look up answers to problems they encounter in their working day when this is easy to do and online access is, literally, to hand. We know that doctors prefer resources that are fully accessible such as full text journal articles [1], and we know that when it comes to both teaching and learning, a case-based approach is much more effective [2]. We also know that assessment inevitably drives learning [3]. In an attempt to better understand what motivates junior doctors to study and to understand how they use study materials, we performed a questionnaire study in a UK deanery asking junior doctors sitting postgraduate examinations why and how they study and revise. 2. Objectives Our objectives were to understand in more detail the resources junior doctors use today and determine their ideal learning and revision aids. 3. Methods All junior hospital doctors in a single deanery were approached and asked to complete an online questionnaire after a brief explanation. Questionnaires were emailed with permission of the deanery. The deanery administrator provided email addresses. Involvement in the study was not compulsory, and trainees were emailed only once. They