European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Introduction: Self-directed learning (SDL) is the practice of learning on one's own initiative and is characterised by the learner's main ownership of the planning, carrying out, and evaluation of the endeavour. To assess whether undergraduate medical students at North Bengal Medical College in Darjeeling district, West Bengal, are ready for self-directed learning, and because medical professionals need to be self-directed learners to maintain lifelong learning in the field of medicine. Methods: This descriptive epidemiological study with cross sectional design was conducted in North Bengal Medical College, located in Siliguri, Darjeeling district. Total 300 undergraduate medical students of North Bengal Medical College from 1st prof to final prof were included in the study after getting consent to participate in the study. The duration of the study was 6 months (August 2019- January 2020). The data was tabulated in Microsoft Excel software and analysed with SPSS V.20    software. Results: In the present study male were 192 (64%) and female were 108 (36%). Total day scholars were 55 (18.3%) and hostellers were 245 (81.7%). Median SDLRS score was 140.63. The mean sores in the three domains of self-management, desire for learning and self- control were 42.76±6.236, 44.67±6.257, and 52.52±7.563 respectively. Females scored higher in all three domains than males. Day scholars scored higher in all the three domains (self- management, desire for self-learning, self-control) when compared with Hostellers. Conclusions: There is need to modify medical education innovation programmes, such as problem-based learning and to emphasize more on self-directed learning rather than on traditional teacher centered learning.