Mindsets in health professions education: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• The growth mindset model is associated with improved academic outcomes in college students.
• Its application within health professions education requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of the growth mindset model's application in health professions education.
• To identify evidence supporting its role in cultivating adaptive lifelong learning in future health professionals.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of multiple databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, Scopus, Embase, etc.) was performed.
• A hand search was also conducted.
• Inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied to 1296 initially reviewed articles, resulting in 22 relevant studies.

Main Results:

• The reviewed literature included medical education (10), nursing (3), veterinary (3), pharmacy (2), physiotherapy (1), and general health professions education (3).
• Fixed mindset learners may avoid feedback and exhibit behaviors detrimental to learning.
• The growth mindset model shows potential for enhancing student learning and professional development.

Conclusions:

• The growth mindset model demonstrates promise for improving academic success in health professions education.
• Integration into curricula may foster essential adaptive, lifelong learning skills.
• A significant portion of reviewed articles lacked empirical research, highlighting the need for more robust studies.