The relevance of Problem-Based Learning in the development of critical thinking
Abstract
Esta carta al editor reflexiona sobre el artículo de Macías et al. (2025) publicado en la Revista Española de Educación Médica, en relación con las características del Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas (ABP) en el desarrollo del pensamiento crítico. Coincidimos con los hallazgos presentados y aportamos una reflexión complementaria, sustentada en literatura científica reciente y en nuestra experiencia docente, que reafirma la pertinencia del ABP como estrategia formativa en Ciencias de la Salud. Destacamos su contribución a la construcción de competencias analíticas y de razonamiento clínico, así como la importancia de integrarlo de manera transversal en los planes de estudio. Consideramos que esta discusión resulta de interés para la comunidad académica, al señalar tanto las fortalezas como los retos metodológicos de esta estrategia pedagógica.
Downloads
Metrics
-
Abstract64
-
pdf (Español (España))34
References
Macías J, Batista Y, Villavicencio L. Características del aprendizaje basado en problemas en el desarrollo de las habilidades del pensamiento crítico: revisión sistemática. Rev Esp Educ Med. 2025;6(5). doi:10.6018/edumed.679011
Chen T, Zhao YJ, Huang FQ, Liu Q, Li Y, Alolga RN, et al. The effect of problem-based learning on improving problem-solving, self-directed learning, and critical thinking ability for pharmacy students: a randomized controlled trial and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2024;19(12):e0314017. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0314017
Sharma S, Saragih ID, Tarihoran DETAU, Chou FH. Outcomes of problem-based learning in nurse education: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nurse Educ Today. 2023;120:105631. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2022.105631
Wei B, Wang H, Li F, Long Y, Zhang Q, Liu H, et al. Effectiveness of problem-based learning on development of nursing students’ critical thinking skills: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nurse Educ. 2024;49(3):E115–9. doi:10.1097/NNE.0000000000001548
Su T, Liu J, Meng L, Luo Y, Ke Q, Xie L. The effectiveness of problem-based learning in enhancing critical thinking skills in medical education: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Educ. 2025;10:1565556. doi:10.3389/feduc.2025.1565556
Ge WL, Zhu XY, Lin JB, Jiang JJ, Li T, Lu YF, et al. Critical thinking and clinical skills by problem-based learning educational methods: an umbrella systematic review. BMC Med Educ. 2025;25(1):455. doi:10.1186/s12909-025-06951-z
Zhou F, Sang A, Zhou Q, Wang QQ, Fan Y, Ma S. The impact of an integrated PBL curriculum on clinical thinking in undergraduate medical students prior to clinical practice. BMC Med Educ. 2023;23(1):460. doi:10.1186/s12909-023-04450-7
Manuaba IBAP, Wu CC, Yi-No. The effectiveness of problem-based learning in improving critical thinking, problem-solving and self-directed learning in first-year medical students: a meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2022;17(11):e0277339. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0277339
Son HK. Effects of simulation with problem-based learning on nursing students’ clinical reasoning ability: based on Tanner’s clinical judgment model. BMC Med Educ. 2023;23(1):601. doi:10.1186/s12909-023-04567-9
Falahan SN, Habibi E, Kamyari N, Yousofvand V. Impact of virtual problem-based learning of cardiopulmonary resuscitation on fourth-year nursing students’ satisfaction and performance: a quasi-experimental study. BMC Med Educ. 2024;24(1):425. doi:10.1186/s12909-024-05375-5
Jiang D, Huang D, Wan H, Fu W, Shi W, Li J, et al. Effect of integrated case-based and problem-based learning on clinical thinking skills of assistant general practitioner trainees: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Med Educ. 2025;25(1):62. doi:10.1186/s12909-025-06634-9
Copyright (c) 2025 Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Murcia

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The works published in this magazine are subject to the following terms:
1. The Publications Service of the University of Murcia (the publisher) preserves the economic rights (copyright) of the published works and favors and allows them to be reused under the use license indicated in point 2.
2. The works are published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivative 4.0 license.
3. Self-archiving conditions. Authors are allowed and encouraged to disseminate electronically the pre-print versions (version before being evaluated and sent to the journal) and / or post-print (version evaluated and accepted for publication) of their works before publication , since it favors its circulation and earlier diffusion and with it a possible increase in its citation and reach among the academic community.












