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  • Knowledge attainment, learning approaches, and self-perceived study burnout among European veterinary students
    Publication . Iivanainen, Antti; Wandall, Jakob; Parpala, Anna; Nevgi, Anne; Keto-Timonen, Riikka; Tipold, Andrea; Schaper, Elisabeth; van Haeften, Theo; Pihl, Tina Holberg; Press, Charles McLean; Holm, Peter; Collares, Carlos
    This study investigates the relationship between approaches to learning, self-perceived study burnout, and the level of knowledge among veterinary students. Veterinary educational programs are under regular development and would benefit greatly from detailed feedback on students' knowledge, proficiency, influencing factors, and coping mechanisms.Methods The VetRepos consortium developed and calibrated an item repository testing knowledge across the entire veterinary curriculum. Two hundred forty-eight students from seven European veterinary institutions took the VetRepos test, comprising a subset of the repository. They also responded to a questionnaire assessing deep and unreflective learning approaches and self-perceived study burnout, represented by exhaustion and cynicism. Structural equation modeling analyzed the relationship between these latent traits and the VetRepos test score.Results The model failed the exact-fit test but was retained based on global fit indices, inter-item residual correlations, and standardized residual covariances. Root Mean Square Error of Approximation with robust standard errors and scaled test statistic was 0.049 (95% confidence interval 0.033-0.071), scaled and robust Comparative Fit Index 0.95 (0.90-0.98), and scaled Standardized Root Mean Square Residual 0.056 (0.049-0.071). Measurement invariance across study years was not violated (Delta CFI = 0.00, chi 2 = 3.78, Delta df = 4, p = 0.44), but it could not be confirmed between genders or universities. The VetRepos test score regressed on the study year [standardized regression coefficient = 0.68 (0.62-0.73)], showed a negative regression on the unreflective learning approach [-0.25 (-0.47 to -0.03)], and a positive regression on the deep approach [0.16 (0.03-0.28)]. No direct association with perceived burnout was observed; however, a significant, medium-sized association was found between the unreflective approach and self-perceived study burnout. No significant differences in learning approaches or perceived burnout were found between study years.Discussion The most important source of variance in VetRepos test scores, unrelated to the study year, was the learning approach. The association between the VetRepos test score and self-perceived burnout was indirect. Future research should complement this cross-sectional approach with longitudinal and person-oriented studies, further investigating the relationship between study burnout and learning approaches.
  • Longitudinal variation of correlations between different components of assessment within a medical school
    Publication . Sousa, Rita Matos; Collares, Carlos; Pereira, Vítor Hugo
    An assessment program should be inclusive and ensure that the various components of medical knowledge, clinical skills, and professionalism are assessed. The level and the variation over time in the strength of the correlation between these components of assessment is still a matter of study. Based on the meaningful learning theory and the integrated learning theory, we hypothesize that these components increase their connections during the medical school course. MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study that analyzed data collected for a 10-year period in one medical school. We included students from the 3rd to 6th year of medical school from 2011 to 2021. Three assessment components were addressed: Knowledge, Clinical Skills, and Professionalism. For data analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients (R) and R2 were calculated to study the correlation between variables and a z-test on Fisher's r-to-z was used to determine the differences between correlation coefficients.Results949 medical students were included in the study. The correlation between Clinical Skills and Professionalism showed a medium to strong association (Pearson's R ranging from 0.485 to 0.734), while the correlation between Knowledge and Professionalism was weaker but exhibited a steady evolution with Pearson's R fluctuating between 0.075 and 0.218. The Knowledge and Clinical Skills correlation became statistically significant from 2013 onwards and peaking at Pearson's R of 0.440 for the cohort spanning 2016-2019. We also revealed a strengthening of correlations between Professionalism and Clinical Skills from the beginning to the end of clinical training, but not with the knowledge component. Conclusions This analysis contributes to our understanding of the dynamics of correlations of different assessment components within an institution and provides a framework for how they interact and influence each other. Trial registration. This study was not a clinical trial, but a retrospective observational study, without health care interventions. Nevertheless, we provide herein the number of the study as submitted to the Ethics committee - CEICVS 146/2021.