How do pediatric surgery residents learn? A sample from Türkiye

Objectives: This study aims to determine the learning styles of pediatric surgery residents and develop applicable recommendations for their education based on the obtained data. Patients and methods: The study was conducted as an online survey using Kolb's Learning Style Inventory (LSI) to classify the learning styles of pediatric surgery residents between January 2021 and December 2021. The survey was distributed nationwide to 97 pediatric surgery residents in Türkiye. The form included demographic data (age, sex, year in residency) and Kolb's LSI questions. The LSI consists of 12 questions. The participants were first divided into groups according to their learning styles and sex. Then, to determine the relationship between clinical experience and learning styles, the participants were divided into three groups according to their duration of residency (≤1 year [Group 1], 2-3 years [Group 2], 4-5 years [Group 3]). Results: The survey form was sent to 97 residents, with 61 (63%) of them completing the form (25 males, 36 females, mean age: 28.8±2.6 years; range, 24 to 38 years). The most common learning styles among the residents were assimilator and diverger, both equally represented (27.9%). A significant difference was found between sex and learning styles (p=0.049), with the divergent learning style more common among male residents (44%) and the assimilator learning style more prevalent among female residents (39%). According to clinical experience, no significant difference was found among the groups (p=0.227). The assimilator learning style was more prevalent in senior residents, while the divergent learning style was more common in first-year residents. No significant difference was observed between age and learning styles. Conclusion: The frequent use of divergent and assimilator learning styles among pediatric surgery residents indicates a strong emphasis on theoretical learning and meticulous application of knowledge in practice. Based on our study results, we suggest that pediatric surgery instructors should incorporate more theoretical education into the curriculum to better prepare residents for potential surgical challenges.