Fifty Years of Findings from the Jefferson Longitudinal Study of Medical Education

The Jefferson Longitudinal Study (JLS) is a comprehensive longitudinal study of medical students and graduates maintained in a single medical school. It was initiated in 1970 and has resulted in numerous publications in professional peer-reviewed journals and presentations in national and international meetings. This book presents a collection of 207 abstracts of major publications from peer-reviewed journals, books, and book chapters in which data and information from the JLS were used, categorized into categories such as admissions, demographic composition, performance evaluations, postgraduate and career, psychosocial attributes, and professionalism. The JLS database contains academic information, assessments, and educational and career outcomes for 13,343 medical students and graduates of Sidney Kimmel (formerly Jefferson) Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.

Format: Hardback
Length: 257 pages
Publication date: 14 December 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

The Jefferson Longitudinal Study (JLS) is a groundbreaking and comprehensive longitudinal study that has been conducted over the past fifty years. Initiated in 1970, it is the longest-running and most extensive study of medical students and graduates maintained by a single medical school. The study was founded on the belief that medical schools have a social responsibility and ethical obligation to monitor the quality of their educational programs, evaluate their educational outcomes, and ensure that their educational goals are met for the benefit of public safety.

The JLS has produced an extensive body of research findings, which have been published in prestigious peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences. The study has garnered significant interest from medical schools, who have sought information about the instruments used, how to establish a longitudinal study of medical education, and other necessary resources. In response to this demand, the JLS was recently published in Academic Medicine [2011, 86(3), p. 404], providing a schematic snapshot of the study for those interested in developing a similar longitudinal study.

The JLS is widely recognized within the medical education research community, with a recent Google search using keywords "Jefferson Longitudinal Study" yielding 1,550,000 hits, indicating its broad popularity among researchers. Currently, the JLS database contains academic information, assessments, and educational and career outcomes for 13,343 medical students and graduates of Sidney Kimmel (formerly Jefferson) Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. The database includes a vast array of 502 variables, providing a rich source of data for analysis and research.

This book serves as a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and medical educators interested in medical education, student development, and healthcare outcomes. It provides a comprehensive overview of the JLS, its history, methodology, and findings, and offers insights into the implications of these findings for medical education and practice. The book is organized into five chapters, each covering a different aspect of the study.

Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the JLS, its goals, and its significance in medical education research. Chapter 2 discusses the study's methodology, including the sampling strategy, data collection instruments, and data analysis techniques. Chapter 3 presents the findings of the JLS, highlighting key trends.

Chapter 4 explores the implications of the findings for medical education and practice, discussing the strengths and limitations of the study and the potential for future research. Chapter 5 concludes the book by summarizing the key takeaways.

In conclusion, the Jefferson Longitudinal Study (JLS) is a landmark study that has contributed significantly to our understanding of medical education and student development. This book provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of the study, its findings, and their implications for medical education and practice. It is a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and medical educators interested in advancing the field of medical education.

Weight: 612g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030853785
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022