Learning Styles of Orthopaedic Residents and Their Performance in the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination

This article was migrated. The article was not marked as recommended. The success of a training programme hinges on the performance of their residents. Trainers and learners need to adapt to rapid advancement of medical knowledge and technology coupled with training requirements such as research and duty hour restrictions. An understanding of the learning style preferences may be helpful for both trainers and learners.In this study we evaluated the orthopaedic resident learning styles and hypothesised that the read/write dominant learning styles is associated with better OITE scores.The Fleming VARK learning styles questionnaire was administered to orthopaedic residents at a single centre in 2017. Their OITE scores and yearly faculty review of performance were analysed for association with their learning styles.All residents (n=22) completed the questionnaire. All but one resident had quad-modal preference for learning. 45% of the trainees were kinaesthetic dominant, 32% read/write dominant and 27% visual dominant and 18% aural dominant. Aural dominant learners had highest average OITE scores followed by kinaesthetic dominant learners.Our residents showed multimodal preferred learning style with most of our residents being kinaesthetic dominant. Trainers and learners may consider incorporating a greater number of teaching activities that suit their individual learning styles to enhance their learning efficiency.