Hajar Shafian; Mansooreh Azizzadeh-Forouzi; Behshid Garrusi; Ali Akbar Haghdoost
Volume 13, Issue 5 , January 2017, , Pages 451-459
Abstract
Background & Objective: Learning style is a distinctive habitual behavior to gain knowledge skills or feedback attained through study or experience The key to engaging students in learning the content is identifying their preferences and learning styles as well as identifying factors influencing ...
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Background & Objective: Learning style is a distinctive habitual behavior to gain knowledge skills or feedback attained through study or experience The key to engaging students in learning the content is identifying their preferences and learning styles as well as identifying factors influencing these variables To reach this goal predictive variables of learning styles should be accurately identified in order to improve the learning environment The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between learning styles and selfesteem in students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran Methods: This descriptiveanalytical and crosssectional study was carried out on 343 students selected through quota sampling method The data collection tools consisted of a demographic information form the Kolb Learning Style Inventory (LSI) version 2 and the Rosenberg SelfEsteem Scale (RSES) Data were analyzed using chisquare test Spearmans correlation coefficient linear regression and logistic regression Results: The mean (± SD) age of the participants was 2141 (± 296) and 443% of students used absorbent learning style In addition 609% of students had poor selfesteem No statistically significant association was observed between students learning styles and levels of confidence In addition the results showed that only gender was a prognostic factor in determining learning styles Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the students selfesteem and learning styles were not correlated; thus teachers can disregard these factors in their assessment of students learning styles
Esmat Noohi; Ali Akbar Haghdoost; Afsaneh Mohammadi
Volume 12, Issue 3 , November 2015, , Pages 442-449
Abstract
Background & Objective: Learning environment should be opportunities for positive change in students attitude to encourage them and create more interest leading to sustainable learning To make constructive changes having information on the current status and about students attitudes toward their ...
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Background & Objective: Learning environment should be opportunities for positive change in students attitude to encourage them and create more interest leading to sustainable learning To make constructive changes having information on the current status and about students attitudes toward their discipline is essential This study was designed to assess the medical and dental students attitude toward their study field (learning environment practicability attraction social rank and future employment) before and after experiencing clinical practice in Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran Methods: This crosssectional analytic study was conducted in 2012 The study population were 95 medical and dental students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences as census of students A researchermade questionnaire was designed consisting 33 questions in five areas of the components of medical education and health care (education environment applicability of the course the attractiveness of the field career and social status) Data were analyzed using paired t ANOVA and MannWhitney U tests via SPSS software Results: There were significant differences between the medical students attitude toward educational environment and practicability of the field before and after experiencing clinical practice but there was no significant difference between their attitude toward attraction future employment and social rank of the field On the other hand there were significant differences between dental students attitudes toward educational environment and future employment before and after experiencing clinical practice but there was no significant difference between their attitudes toward practicability attraction and social rank of the field In addition there was no significant difference between the two groups based on gender and age Conclusion: The results showed significant differences only in three educational components between two groups of students According to obtained data short and longtime plans could be designed for increasing the efficiency of education improving educational structure and obtaining welfare and economical possibilities for students
Ali Akbar Haghdoost; Hossein Rafiei; Abozar Raeisvandi; Yasan Kazemzadeh
Volume 12, Issue 2 , August 2015, , Pages 355-365
Abstract
Background & Objective: Higher education and postgraduate programs characterize one of the key components of human development in any country The present study was carried out at Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran with the aim of investigating MSc and PhD students level of satisfaction ...
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Background & Objective: Higher education and postgraduate programs characterize one of the key components of human development in any country The present study was carried out at Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran with the aim of investigating MSc and PhD students level of satisfaction with their present situation and their view of the amount of attention and effort the university authorities exercise to meet the students expectations Methods: The target population of the present descriptive analytical study consisted of 135 postgraduate students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences Data were gathered using the Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI) This inventory evaluates the students satisfaction with services provided by supervisors and educational educational assistance campus facilities studentcentered and general services Results: In total 422% of students (41% male and 432% female) were satisfied with the services The maximum level of satisfaction of students was with services provided by supervisors and the lowest level was with campus facilities On the other hand 383% of students (36% male and 419% female) were satisfied with the amount of attention from the university authorities to the services In their view maximum attention was given to the services provided by supervisors and the minimum was given to campus facilities Conclusion: In conclusion students level of satisfaction with their current situation and the level of effort made by authorities to meet their needs were rated low In view of the growing increase in admittance of students into higher education and to promote the quality of this sector university authorities should pay more heed to meeting the needs of postgraduate students who play a significant role in building the countrys future
Ali Akbar Haghdoost; Mozhgan Emami; Reza Dehnavieh; Nader Momtazmanesh; Farangis Shoghi Shafagh Aria; Mohammad Hossien Mehrolhassani
Volume 11, Issue 4 , February 2015, , Pages 407-419
Abstract
Background & Objective: The main objective of medical education is the training of competent and qualified personnel to maintain and improve public health In this regard education development centers (EDC) for medical sciences have been established to provide and assess the quality of education Therefore ...
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Background & Objective: The main objective of medical education is the training of competent and qualified personnel to maintain and improve public health In this regard education development centers (EDC) for medical sciences have been established to provide and assess the quality of education Therefore due to the need for these centers this study aimed to examine their challenges and provide strategies to improve their performance Methods: An applied and qualitative study was carried out in 2013 The study population was 288 members of the managers and personnel of study centers and development offices of faculties educational deputies heads of universities and faculty members Data was collected during a 2day scheduled conference in the form of 5 key lectures 3 panels and 6 Focus Group Discussions Data analysis was performed using framework analysis Results: In the correct establishment of the centers 7 key challenges and 18 subchallenges were identified Within the framework of the educational governance and leadership components such as policy making monitoring evaluation and predisposing components of implementation like structure manpower and processes were identified The relationship between policy making evaluation and subcomponents is defined by two key factors of knowledge management and communications Conclusion: EDC centers have been challenged because of moving away from the original position of knowledge management and communications in the field of governance to ensure and improve the quality of education The 3 trends of integration of education and service delivery privatization of services and lack of clarity of interactions between public and private sector have exacerbated these challenges
Esmat Noohi; Ali Akbar Haghdoost; Behshid Garuosi
Volume 11, Issue 4 , February 2015, , Pages 434-441
Abstract
Background & Objective: Students are faced with many problems that can be associated with irreversible damage and devastating effects Psychological pressure is caused by changes in living conditions separation from family economic and financial problems marriage employment while studying and consequently ...
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Background & Objective: Students are faced with many problems that can be associated with irreversible damage and devastating effects Psychological pressure is caused by changes in living conditions separation from family economic and financial problems marriage employment while studying and consequently educational problems including academic failure unnecessary transfer and changing of field of study and lack of scientific competence and dropping out reduced performance poor educational achievement All these show that the authorities have a grave responsibility in recognizing controlling and preventing educational damages Thus the aim of the present study was to identify students academic problems and the role of lecturers and counselors in resolving these problems from the view of students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences Kerman Iran Methods: The present research is a crosssectional study The data collection tool was a questionnaire consisting of 4 parts demographic characteristics the opinion of students about the counseling duties of lecturers students problems and the role of lecturers in reducing problems Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were determined using content validity and testretest (r = 078) respectively Data analysis was performed using SPSS software Results: Our findings indicate that of the 500 students studied 351 were female (702%) and 149 (298%) male The average age of the participants was 217 years The mean and standard deviation of the students psychoemotional problems was 144 ± 629 educational problems 9711 ± 1151 social and communicative problems 986 ± 796 and financial and economic problems 234 ± 61 Based on the view of students the mean and standard deviation of the role of counselors in the mentioned academic problems was 982 ± 3346 Conclusion: The majority of the problems expressed by students were related to social and educational issues which can cause problems for the students in respect to their educational and professional goals As a result of these problems students may require guidance and counseling services Students inadequate knowledge of consulting services may be the cause of their lack of use of these services for solving their problems With careful planning and updating and expanding counselors activities and knowledge more effective steps can be taken to reduce educational problems and promote the academic status of students
Mohammad Reza Baneshi; Somayeh Shahroudi; Maliheh Rezaei; Farzaneh Zolala; Maryam Okhovati; Ali Akbar Haghdoost
Volume 11, Issue 2 , August 2014, , Pages 196-204
Abstract
Background & Objective: Improving the quality of education is the most central values of academic institutions and higher education Given professors have played a decisive role in this context for assessing the quality of education we need to evaluate the quality of instruction One of the ...
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Background & Objective: Improving the quality of education is the most central values of academic institutions and higher education Given professors have played a decisive role in this context for assessing the quality of education we need to evaluate the quality of instruction One of the common methods for professors evaluation is evaluation by students that it usually takes place at the end of each semester With regard to the professors evaluation data are of various types: the longitudinal data or repeated measurements over time therefore to evaluate it the quality of instruction should be used with longitudinal data analysis However such methods often are explained by complex methodology This article introduces multilevel linear model and generalized estimating equations approach and valueadded models by simple and applied expression as appropriate models for analysis of longitudinal data such as professors evaluation data
Sara Shafian; Mansooreh Azizzadeh-Forouzi; Behshid Garrusi; Ali Akbar Haghdoost; Soodabeh Navadeh
Volume 11, Issue 1 , May 2014, , Pages 90-100
Abstract
Background & Objective: Learning style is a distinct behavior for gaining knowledge and skills through study or experience Personality is a series of relatively stable characteristics which distinguish a person from others The key to involving learners in the learning process is their preferences ...
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Background & Objective: Learning style is a distinct behavior for gaining knowledge and skills through study or experience Personality is a series of relatively stable characteristics which distinguish a person from others The key to involving learners in the learning process is their preferences and learning styles and identifying factors affecting these variables In this regard the predictor variables of learning styles must be accurately identified so as to improve educational conditions This study aimed to determine factors predictive of learning styles of the students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran In addition the impact of demographic factors on their characteristics will be discussed Methods: This was a crosssectional study Data collection was performed by a questionnaire including demographic data personality test (NEO) the Learning style inventory and the Kolb Learning Style Questionnaire For data analysis central tendency and dispersion measures chisquare Spearman correlation coefficient and logistic regression tests were used Results: The results show that most of the participants in this study were single women Mean age of participants was 2141 ± 296 years Most students (4431%) used assimilating learning style Based on the results of these personality types nearly a third of students (282%) were of the conscientious (responsible) character type The results showed that only gender is a predictor of learning styles Conclusion: More attention to students learning styles results in the perfect use of teaching practices and increasing and enhancement of students capabilities Moreover by identifying students preferred learning styles and changing teaching methods the students enthusiasm for learning can be increased
Ali Akbar Haghdoost; Mahmood Reza Dehghani; Seyed Amin Ayatollahimousavi; Yasaman Nafisi; Elham Pourkhandani; Pardis Sasani; Azam Bazrafshan; Ali Pourkhandani; Elham Talebian; Rahele Zareshahi
Volume 8, Issue 1 , July 2011, , Pages 49-57
Abstract
Background and Objective: Scholarship is of such a great importance that even the developed countries pay special attention to it while in developing countries it has been left unattended and there is no appropriate management to benefit from the its advantages For this scholarship has to be considered ...
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Background and Objective: Scholarship is of such a great importance that even the developed countries pay special attention to it while in developing countries it has been left unattended and there is no appropriate management to benefit from the its advantages For this scholarship has to be considered more seriously in the planning system of the country in order to achieve the highest yield beside all expenses Methods: Using registered documents as one of the best information sources 366 students awarded scholarship between19972003 were enrolled into the study Students personal information at the time of going abroad scholarship granted university local university and students major and duration of study were considered as useful information and excluded carefully from electronic and paper documents under the cooperation of the scholarship office of Ministry of Health and Medical Education Results: Most of the students were studying in European countries (697%) and Australian and Oceania universities (126%) The average duration of study was (±046) 407 years for PhD and (± 054)512 years for clinical specialty candidates showing a significant difference between the two groups (P‹ 0001) However the noticeable point is that nonreturning rate has been more than average for students who have received scholarship from those universities and also the ministry while scholarship holders from level three universities were successful in science generating Conclusion: The highest number of awarded scholarships belonged to the large universities in the country and based on the available information it is difficult to judge whether scholarship awarding has been distributed fairly among universities or not
Mahmood Reza Dehghani; Elham Talebian; Rahele Zareshahi; Elham Pourkhandani; Ali Pourkhandani; Pardis Sasani; Shima Vaziri Nasab; Azam Bazrafshan; Ali Akbar Haghdoost; Azam Shamsadini
Volume 6, Issue 2 , January 2010, , Pages 99-109
Abstract
Background & Objective : The importance of dispatching students to foreign countries to continue education is so obvious that even developed countries are not needless of that Hence this study was conducted to evaluate the opinion of overseas graduates who were on a scholarship about the meaning ...
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Background & Objective : The importance of dispatching students to foreign countries to continue education is so obvious that even developed countries are not needless of that Hence this study was conducted to evaluate the opinion of overseas graduates who were on a scholarship about the meaning and concepts of educational achievement and its effective factors Methods : In this qualitative study 11 faculty members of Kerman University of Medical Sciences who have been graduated from foreign universities participated They were inquired into their opinions about assessment criteria of educational achievement and its effective factors using an open interview Results : Among the most important concepts of educational achievement regarding education quantity attending seminars and conferences can be pointed out The efficiency of learned materials and learning professional scientific topics are important considering education quality and learning extra topics respectively The interviewees also believed that personal factors including personality family economic affairs having professional knowledge in the field of study necessary skills in the language of the target university and its status especially tutors topic and field of research were also substantial Conclusion : Our findings suggest that concepts of academic achievement are vast and one cannot be considered successful assessing only one or some criteria Hence duration of study the amount of scientific products and their quality the amount of scientific connections and the application of learned topics by the learner are to be noted
Afshin Sarafi Nejad; Siamak Najarian; Ali Akbar Haghdoost
Volume 5, Issue 2 , January 2009, , Pages 152-154
Abstract
A new world of distance education demands new thinking Key components to complete the distance educational system require that institutions determine how the process is designed delivered integrated and supported To have a better chance to develop online education in Iran the academic staff ...
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A new world of distance education demands new thinking Key components to complete the distance educational system require that institutions determine how the process is designed delivered integrated and supported To have a better chance to develop online education in Iran the academic staff should mention a lot of punctual notes in order to prepare the material which is going to be published as the online course As a rule teachers must pay careful attention to the common principles and standards in virtual education Moreover they must improve their skills in designing and editing course contents In the process of virtual education taking five exact steps can lead us to achieve the main educational goal that is effective learning These five steps include analysis instructional design interface design development online testing and evaluation The key to success in virtual education concerns serious attention to the quality of educational content and the capability to reuse learning objects It is definitely necessary for the countrys higher educational system to consider this fact having a specialized and scientific view
Seyed-Arash Tehrani Banihashemi; Ali Akbar Haghdoost; Mohammed Amir Amirkhani; Ali Akbar Haghdoost; Seyed-Moayed Alavian; Homa Asgharifard; Hamid Baradaran; Mozhgan Barghamdi; Saeid Parsinia; Sahar Fathi Ranjbar
Volume 4, Issue 1 , July 2007, , Pages 1-9
Abstract
Background & Objective: Health literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain process and understand basic health information and services required for making appropriate health decisions The aim of this study was to estimate the level of health literacy and to ...
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Background & Objective: Health literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain process and understand basic health information and services required for making appropriate health decisions The aim of this study was to estimate the level of health literacy and to determine the factors influencing it using valid instrument Methods: In a Populationbased household survey in 5 cities and 5 villages of Boushehr Mazandaran Kermanshah Ghazvin and Tehran provinces 1086 adults aged 18 and older were enrolled into the study Health literacy was measured by the questionnaire designed for test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA) after validation Regression analysis was used to determine the association of demographic factors and level of health literacy Results: The average response rate was 708% in the studied clusters From all participants 614% were female and the rest were male Mean age of participants was 381 years Seventeen percent of the study population was illiterate and 36% had diploma or higher education The level of health literacy was adequate in 281% borderline in 15 3% and inadequate in 565% of the subjects Mean score of health literacy was 453 in males and 411 in females (P=0057) However after adjustment for educational level in the regression model health literacy was found to be higher in females (P=014) Limited health literacy was also associated with lower economic status (P=0004) Conclusion: This study indicates that the level of health literacy is low in Iran Educational level was the most important determinant of health literacy and the most increase was seen in subjects with more than 8 years education Lower health literacy in women older people and rural inhabitants was mainly due to lower educational levels in these groups
Ali Akbar Haghdoost; Zahra Jalili; Esmat Asadi Karam
Volume 2, Issue 2 , January 2006, , Pages 88-94
Abstract
Background: Although morning report is a wellknown term in medical education and one of the most practical clinical training methods there is not still consensus among experts on its standards Nonetheless it seems that the first step for improving the quality of this training method is to obtain a comprehensive ...
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Background: Although morning report is a wellknown term in medical education and one of the most practical clinical training methods there is not still consensus among experts on its standards Nonetheless it seems that the first step for improving the quality of this training method is to obtain a comprehensive picture of its current statue Objective: to assess the characteristics of morning reports (such as their durations participants and their responsibilities management of these sessions and…) in training hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2006 Methods: In this crosssectional study 36 morning report sessions held in all of the training wards were observed over one week Data were gathered by direct observation The observer attended the sessions as an ordinary participant and it was tried to use complete observer method Results: among 36 assessed morning reports the maximum sessions were held in major wards (each one held 5 sessions) The duration of the longest and shortest ones was 90 and 35 minutes respectively In 30 sessions the academic staff played the main role of managing discussions while in 5 sessions they were only asking questions and in one session staff presented a lecture In 13 sessions interns did not have any role in presenting patients the corresponding numbers for residents and students were 16 and 0 respectively In overall the number of participants in the beginning and at the end of sessions was more or less equal while around 14% of participants were not present during the whole period of the session Conclusion: Considerable variations were found among the training wards in running morning report sessions There were some weak points in running these sessions such as the frequency and duration of sessions low rate of participation by students and interns and reporting outpatient cases but most of the wards apply the training method more or less effectively