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Self-regulated learning in the workplace: what can high-achievers teach us?

Residents mainly learn in clinical practice, where patient care often takes priority and learning is less structured than in a classroom. Some residents progress faster. 

Aim

We investigated: 

  1. Differences in their learning approaches (literature review)
  2. How to optimally support talented residents (interviews with supervisors in General Practice and Elderly Care)

Results

  • Literature review: excellent residents/physicians show strong medical knowledge, communication and professional skills, high motivation, and traits such as flexibility and empathy. 
  • Interviews with supervisors in General Practice and Elderly Care: talented residents are autonomous, socially skilled, and motivated; sometimes they receive less feedback or challenge. 

Conclusion

  • They may not learn fundamentally differently, but perhaps more efficiently, autonomous and, in any case, with great motivation. Supervisors could be trained to keep challenging them.

Recommendations

  • To improve the support and development of excellent medical residents, it is important to provide better training for their supervisors. 
  • While this study highlights that current supervision may have certain shortcomings, it does not offer specific solutions. Therefore, involving outstanding residents themselves in designing this training is essential to ensure it meets their needs and promotes excellence in medical education.

Article

Products

Title: What are the characteristics of excellent physicians and residents in the clinical workplace? A systematic review
Author: Khawar A, Frederiks F, Nasori M, Mak M, Visser MR, van Etten-Jamaludin F, Diemers A, Van Dijk N
Magazine: BMJ Open
Start- and endpage: 1-1
Title: Herkennen en ondersteunen van talent in de huisartsopleiding.
Author: Khawar AAJ.
Magazine: Huisarts & Wetenschap
Start- and endpage: 65-65
Title: Characteristics of talented General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine trainees: an interview study from the perspective of their trainers and teachers
Author: Frederiks F, et al.
Title: Characteristics of excellent medical professionals in the clinical workplace; a systematic review
Author: Frederiks, F. Et al.

Quick links

  • Training, learning and professionalisation
  • Primary care
  • General practitioner care
  • Learning and improving
  • Educational research
  • Elderly

    • Features

    • Project number:
      839130008
    • Duration: 100%
      2017
      2023
    • Part of programme:
    • Related funding round:
      Onderwijs 2016
    • Project lead and secretary:
      N. Van Dijk
    • Responsible organisation:
      Amsterdam UMC Locatie AMC

    Education research

    To continue improving further training in general practice and elderly medicine, we support and facilitate education research. Learn more about our ‘General Practice and Elderly Medicine Research’ Programme, including education research.