An operational measure of physician lifelong learning: its development, components and preliminary psychometric data.
Publication/Presentation Date
7-1-2003
Abstract
Despite the emphasis placed on physicians' lifelong learning, no psychometrically sound instrument has been developed to provide an operational measure of the concept and its components among physicians. The authors designed this study to develop a tool for measuring physician lifelong learning, to identify its underlying components and to assess its psychometric properties. A 37-item questionnaire was developed, based on a review of literature and the results of two pilot studies. Psychometric analyses of the responses of 160 physicians identified 19 items that were included in the Jefferson Scale of Physician Lifelong Learning. Factor analysis of the 19 items showed five meaningful factors that were consistent with the definition and major features of lifelong learning. They were 'need recognition', 'research endeavor', 'self-initiation', 'technical skills' and 'personal motivation'. The method of contrasted groups provided evidence in support of the validity of the five factors. The factors' reliability was assessed by coefficient alpha. It is concluded that lifelong learning is a multifaceted concept, and its operational measure is feasible for evaluating different educational programs and for studying group differences among physicians.
Volume
25
Issue
4
First Page
433
Last Page
437
ISSN
0142-159X
Published In/Presented At
Hojat, M., Nasca, T. J., Erdmann, J. B., Frisby, A. J., Veloski, J. J., & Gonnella, J. S. (2003). An operational measure of physician lifelong learning: its development, components and preliminary psychometric data. Medical teacher, 25(4), 433–437. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159031000137463
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
12893557
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article