摘要：The ability of self directed learning is learners’ autonomy to control their learning process. The ability to perform self-directed learning can be developed during the learning process. Previous studies showed potential barriers to perform self-directed learning among medical students. This study aimed to analyse difference of self-directed learning ability among medical students before and after undergoing professional education program in a certain clinical department.This study was an observational study with comparative cross-sectional approach. The subjects were medical students on the professional education program at a certain clinical department at a teaching hospital Surakarta city. Thirty-three students undergoing a 4-week program from August to September 2012, were selected by purposive sampling. The instrument used from Fischer, King and Tague was further translated into Bahasa Indonesia and validated. Data was analysed using t-test. The study found no statistically significant difference on average self-directed learning ability before (149,6) and after (151,9) following the professional education program at a certain clinical department (p=0,47). More studies are needed particularly to investigate alternatives of interventions to increase self-directed learning ability in the professional phase of medical education.Keywords: self-directed learning, medical professional education, medical students
