Reflective Practices among Postgraduate Medical Students to Improve their Learning Outcomes - A Qualitative Exploratory Study

Background: Reflective practice among postgraduate medical students has been found to contribute to developing personal and professional skills, and improve clinical competence, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities with the ultimate goal of promoting lifelong learning and self-awarenes...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sahar Mufti, Brekhna Jamil, Ali Ahsan Mufti, Saman Baseer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College 2025-02-01
Series:Liaquat National Journal of Primary Care
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Online Access:https://journals.lnh.edu.pk/lnjpc/pdf/b8389f8b-3921-42d0-b47c-a7909447f4e4.pdf
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Summary:Background: Reflective practice among postgraduate medical students has been found to contribute to developing personal and professional skills, and improve clinical competence, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities with the ultimate goal of promoting lifelong learning and self-awareness among postgraduate students, resulting in overall growth. Objective: The primary aim of this review is to illustrate the elements that affect postgraduate students’ adoption of reflective learning and its significance for their professional and personal growth. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted from March 2023 to August 2023 for 6 months. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with a purposive sample of nine postgraduate students. All the interviews were audio recorded and transcribed onto otter.ai. Confidentiality and anonymity were guaranteed due to the sensitive nature of the data. Thematic analysis was done and primary codes were obtained. The coding was done manually. The codes merged to create categories and themes. To achieve analytical triangulation, the codes and themes were discussed with the supervisor and were agreed upon. Results: The results of this qualitative study shed light on the transformative potential of reflective writing in a variety of contexts. Three themes along with eight sub-themes were identified from the data analysis. Individuals perceived reflective writing as a tool for self-improvement through documenting personal growth and learning. Reflective practice has encouraged the participants to re-think their thoughts, beliefs, and experiences in a more meaningful and structured manner. Conclusion: This study concluded that reflective writing is an effective tool that can enhance postgraduate students’ learning outcomes and personal and professional development. However, it is important to be cognizant of the challenges associated with reflective practice and to provide students with the assistance they require to be successful.
ISSN:2707-3521
2708-9134