Self-directed learning and the student learning experience in undergraduate clinical science programs: a scoping review

Health professional organisations are increasingly promoting the use of self-directed learning. Furthermore, the rapidly evolving field of healthcare has meant that there is greater emphasis within tertiary education for students to become self-directed learners and possess the skills to engage in life-long learning. The aim of this scoping review was to explore the drivers that improve the student learning experience, in undergraduate clinical science programs that utilise self-directed learning. The Joanna Briggs Institute Scoping Review Methodology guided this study. The electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, Scopus and ERIC were comprehensively searched in April 2022 and re-run August 2023, for peer-reviewed research articles published in English. The original search was developed in MEDLINE and then adapted to each database. Following the Joanna Briggs Scoping Review methodology, articles were screened first by title and abstract and then by full text. Included articles were assessment for methodological quality. The search strategy yielded 2209 articles for screening. 19 met the inclusion criteria. Five key factors were identified which improve the student learning experience in self-directed learning: (i) curricular elements; (ii) educator influence; (iii) impact of peers, (iv) environment; and (v) clinical placement experiences. There are many curricular, environmental, and external factors which can improve the student learning experience in programs that utilise self-directed learning. Greater understanding of these factors will allow educators within clinical science programs to implement self-directed learning strategies more effectively within curriculum.