Attitudes of residents and anesthesiologists toward basic sciences

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Adult Learning Theory

Background:

• Perceived relevance is crucial for adult learning and influences learning behaviors.
• Attitudes shape learners' choices and engagement with subject matter.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and compare attitudes of residents and anesthesiologists regarding the relevance of basic sciences to clinical practice.
• To investigate differences in learning preferences between these two groups.

Main Methods:

• An 8-item questionnaire administered to 105 residents and 142 anesthesiologists.
• Data collected electronically using 5-level Likert scales.
• Statistical comparison of responses between residents and anesthesiologists.

Main Results:

• Both groups acknowledged the relevance of basic sciences, with anesthesiologists showing significantly higher ratings than residents.
• Attending anesthesiologists scored significantly higher for emphasis on in-depth basic science learning before clinical application.
• Residents showed a slight preference for superficial learning of general concepts, though below neutral.

Conclusions:

• Attitudes towards the relevance of basic sciences differ significantly between residents and attending anesthesiologists.
• Both groups value foundational knowledge, but experienced anesthesiologists place a higher emphasis on its depth and application.
• Educational strategies may need to address varying perceptions of relevance and learning depth.