Metacognitive awareness and self-regulated learning skills of medical students in different medical curricula

The aim of this study was to investigate the acquisition of metacognitive awareness and self-regulated learning skills in medical schools using different curricular models.

The study was carried out in four medical schools implementing different curricular models. Eight hundred and sixty two medical students took part in the study and two scales (self-regulated learning perception scale--SRLPS and metacognitive awareness inventory--MAI) were used. Cronbach's alpha was 0.93 for the MAI, and 0.88, 0.91, 0.83, and 0.76 for the four dimensions of the SRLPS.

There were no statistically significant differences in MAI scores according to gender, curricular language, or previous exposure or not to a learner-centered method during secondary school, but the differences in scores according to the phase and curricular model were found to be significant. With regard to SRLPS total scores, no difference was found according to gender, but significant differences were found according to phase, curricular language, and curricular model. MAI and SRLPS scores of students from the medical school using a learner-centered curriculum were higher than the other schools' students.

This study suggests that students who experience a learner-centered curriculum, such as PBL during their medical education demonstrate improved metacognitive awareness and self-regulated learning skills.