Ghobad Ramezani; Khadijeh Khoshsokhan; Eshagh Moradi; Kamran Soltani Arabshahi; Davood Rasouli
Abstract
Background: Good physician-patient communication improves health outcomes. However, many medical students lack effective communication skills.Objectives: This study was done to evaluate a virtual education module for teaching communication skills to medical students in Iran.Methods: The pre-test-post-test ...
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Background: Good physician-patient communication improves health outcomes. However, many medical students lack effective communication skills.Objectives: This study was done to evaluate a virtual education module for teaching communication skills to medical students in Iran.Methods: The pre-test-post-test experimental design was conducted with simple random sampling using random number generation software to compare the virtual module of communication skills. Iran University of Medical Sciences students' attitudes were assessed with the Communication Skills Attitude Scale (CSAS) and clinical performance was assessed with the Calgary Cambridge checklist. A total of 50 students in each group have completed the course. The virtual module was designed and developed with the steps of the Calgary Cambridge model and was taught using PowerPoint, posters, pamphlets, and podcasts. Independent t-test samples, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were utilized for data analysis using SPSS software.Results: The mean age of participants in the Conventional group was 23.92±3.27, and in the virtual module group was 24.02±3.16. The mean difference in attitude toward communication between the two groups was 25.62±5.45, and performance was 6.23±1.61, which was statistically significant. The statistical analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in the mean attitude and performance of students before and after the virtual module (P<0.05).Conclusion: The virtual module significantly improved students' communication skills, attitude, and performance compared to conventional education. The implementation of virtual education modules can effectively enhance the teaching of communication skills in medical schools. Further studies are needed to assess the long-term impacts on physician-patient communication.
Ahmad Ahmadi; Mansoureh Taghavinia; Kamran Soltani Arabshahi; Mohammad Sadegh Ghasemi
Abstract
Background Based on the plan of revolution and innovation in medical education that was issued by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, and the extensive role of such programs in the qualitative promotion of universities, The academic ranking of world universities is of great importance, ...
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Background Based on the plan of revolution and innovation in medical education that was issued by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, and the extensive role of such programs in the qualitative promotion of universities, The academic ranking of world universities is of great importance, since the qualitative and quantitative implementation of academic ranking can influence the realization of the university’s goals. Hence, the current study aimed at collecting data about the academic ranking of world universities as well as its criteria and indices and their relationship with globalization. Methods To gain access to reputable databases in university ranking, an extensive search was performed in Google Scholar. Thereafter, after getting access to reputable databases such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), Times higher education world University ranking (THE), Quacquarelli Symonds world University rankings (QS), Webometric, and Islamic world science citation center (ISC), data were collected and classified. Results Based on the collected data, the history of university rankings and ranking systems, as well as criteria and indices pertaining to the academic ranking of world universities, was derived, and the specificities of the criteria and indices were discussed. Conclusions University rankings are usually performed on a combination of performance-associated indices and criteria. Efforts to achieve a desirable position based on the criteria and indices of the ranking system play an important role in the promotion of educational quality and globalization.