Habibeh Ahmadipour; Fatemeh Musavi
Abstract
Background: The rapid growth of information technology has created opportunities for online learning.Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Online Learning Readiness Scale (OLRS) and assess the readiness of health care providers ...
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Background: The rapid growth of information technology has created opportunities for online learning.Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Online Learning Readiness Scale (OLRS) and assess the readiness of health care providers in this regard.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 among 181 health care providers in Kerman, selected through multi-stage sampling. The data collection tool included a questionnaire with demographic information and the Persian version of OLRS, comprising 18 questions across 5 subscales: computer/internet self-efficacy, self-directed learning, learner control, learning motivation, and online communication self-efficacy. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, independent t-test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) in SPSS v. 26, as well as LISREL v. 8.8 software.Results: Cronbach's alpha coefficient for subscales ranged from 0.74 to 0.93, with factor loadings of items ranging from 0.54 to 0.96. Goodness-of-fit indicators met acceptable standards. The mean scores for all subscales exceeded the average (2.5). Health care providers in rural areas had higher mean scores in the self-directed learning (P=0.04), learning control (P=0.02), and learning motivation (P=0.001) subscales. Men scored higher in the self-directed learning (P=0.01) and learning motivation (P=0.04) subscales.Conclusion: The Persian version of OLRS demonstrates satisfactory psychometric properties and can be used to assess the readiness of learners for online learning. When planning such training, it is crucial to consider factors related to learners' readiness, including demographic and occupational characteristics.
Fereidoon Azizi; Abbass Entezari; Nader Momtazmanesh; Masoud Pezeshkian; Narges Tabrizchi
Abstract
Background: Following the Iranian Islamic revolution in 1979, two major reforms were implemented in the nationwide health system: Establishment of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and the development of Primary Health Care Networks. The aim of this article is to review the impact of integration ...
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Background: Following the Iranian Islamic revolution in 1979, two major reforms were implemented in the nationwide health system: Establishment of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and the development of Primary Health Care Networks. The aim of this article is to review the impact of integration of medical education in the health system.Methods: We review here the birth and growth of the integration of the health care system and medical education, the successes, the aspirations and some of the obstacles and challenges found along this path, as well as the vision and strategies for the future. All articles on this issue published in international Journal and in Iranian medical Journals were reviewed.Results: Health care and medical education in the I.R. Iran have undergone profound reform in the last four decades after integration of the Ministry of Health and all related schools and institutions of medical education. The newly formed Ministry of Health and Medical Education is responsible for every aspect of policy making, planning, leadership, stewardship, supervision and evaluation of health services, in addition to the training and educating of human resources for health, within the “Comprehensive Health Care Delivery System” that makes up Iran’s health infrastructure. From 1979 to 2020, the number of medical, dentistry and pharmacy schools have increased from 7 to 47, 3 to 35 and 3 to 22, respectively, with a rise in student yearly admissions in all programs of medical sciences from 1387 to 48120. There were no PhD or clinical subspecialty programs in 1979, whereas in 2020, annual student admission rates for such programs were 1038 and 219, respectively; these have been accompanied by marked improvements in the quality of education, clinical care and major health indicators such as increase in life expectancy, access to PHC in rural area, access to clean water, total number of rural health houses and vaccination coverage, on the other hand decrease in maternal, neonatal and under 5years mortality rates, decline in the number of patients sent abroad for treatment and also the number of foreign general physicians practicing in Iran..As a result ofsignificant rise in research activitiesthe number of scientific medical publications have increased from less than 2000 to over 70,000 yearly and Iran has achieved rank of 16 among all countries of the world in this regard.Conclusion: Integration of medical education into the health care system has been an appropriate and economical strategy for achieving health promotion and the key point for the improvement of medical education for better social accountability in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Maryam Houshmand; Leslie-Faith Morritt Taub; Fon Sim Ong; Ameneh Yaghoobzadeh
Abstract
Background: Continuous quality improvement in nursing education is crucial to ensure that the curriculum is benchmarked against international standards and best practices, while remaining relevant to the local community. Comparing current programs using a comparative approach is one of the evaluation ...
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Background: Continuous quality improvement in nursing education is crucial to ensure that the curriculum is benchmarked against international standards and best practices, while remaining relevant to the local community. Comparing current programs using a comparative approach is one of the evaluation techniques used.Objectives: The main objective of this paper is to compare the geriatric nursing program's curriculum at the master's level between Iran and the USA (specifically, the Rory Meyers College of Nursing).Methods: This descriptive-comparative study utilized Bereday's model to assess the geriatric nursing curricula. The primary method of inquiry was through secondary sources, primarily information gathered from web pages. Similarities were identified, and comparisons were made using Bereday's Model.Results: We discovered several differences and only a few similarities between the two curricula. However, it's important to interpret the results with caution since these two countries have different macroenvironments and varying stages of the aging process, which significantly influence the need for geriatric medicine and nursing care.Conclusion: This study can be valuable for countries that are starting to experience population aging, as it allows them to learn from well-established programs, avoid potential pitfalls, and gain insights into best practices to enhance their preparedness for advancements in nursing care.
Salman Bashzar; Vahid Yazdi Feyzabadi; Atefeh Ahmadi; Fatemeh Karami Robat; Masoomeh Shahsavari; Ali Akbar Haghdoost; Bagher Amirheidari
Abstract
Background: Despite some obstacles, internationalization of medical education can promote the educational, research and clinical level of universities.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the opportunities, challenges, and solutions of the internationalization of higher medical education ...
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Background: Despite some obstacles, internationalization of medical education can promote the educational, research and clinical level of universities.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the opportunities, challenges, and solutions of the internationalization of higher medical education in Iran.Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted with Brown and Clark's thematic content analysis approach. Purposeful sampling was performed using the snowball strategy, and the data were collected using semi-structured interviews. The statistical population included Iranian students and professors residing in universities abroad, experts and key officials working in the Deputy of International Relations in Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education, the Vice-Chancellors of the International Relation Units of the country’s universities of medical sciences, and foreign students studying in Iran’s universities of medical sciences. The data were gathered by conducting 17 interviews with eligible individuals following the principle of data saturation. Finally, the data were subjected to thematic analysis by MAXQDA-10 software.Results: The data extracted from the interviews were categorized into 268 codes, 29 subcategories, and six categories. The themes identified were "specifications of an international higher education center", "advantages of internationalization", and "necessary items and requirements" in the field of requirements and criteria, "weaknesses and challenges of internationalization" in the field of challenges, "operational solutions for addressing challenges" and "successful domestic and foreign experiences of the internationalization of higher medical education centers " in the field of solutions. The subthemes of "weaknesses and challenges at the level of the university" and "hardware specifications" attained the highest frequency among open codes.Conclusion: A need to be responsive to many present and future needs of our country necessities that the higher medical education system moves in parallel with the globalization process and multicultural societies. In this regard, officials should pay attention to the requirements, criteria, challenges, and solutions of the internationalization of higher medical education in Iran based on the evidence disclosed in this study.
Milad Ahmadi Gohari; Abedin Iranpour; Salahodin Rakhshani Rad; Moghaddameh Mirzaee; Ali Akbar Haghdoost
Abstract
Background: Online education has become more vastly recognized as a powerful educational tool after the Covid-19 pandemic. It provides educational opportunities that were not previously possible because of time or place restrictions.Objectives: This study investigated the factors influencing students' ...
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Background: Online education has become more vastly recognized as a powerful educational tool after the Covid-19 pandemic. It provides educational opportunities that were not previously possible because of time or place restrictions.Objectives: This study investigated the factors influencing students' acceptance of online learning systems during the Covid-19 pandemic.Methods: The study sample comprised 435 students from Kerman University of Medical Sciences. We used the external technology acceptance model (TAM) to determine the acceptance of online education systems by undergraduate students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to check the model hypotheses. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.Results: In this study, 65% of the participants were men. The mean score for the items in the questionnaire was 53.1±19.3. The constructs of perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness had a significant effect on students' attitudes, and students' attitudes and perceived usefulness strongly influenced their behavior in using the online education system.Conclusion: The results of this study show that the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of the online education system indirectly affect students' behavior in using online education. Thus, educational policymakers at universities can emphasize the ease of learning and especially the easy use of mobile phones when choosing an online education system. In addition, the creation and expansion of the necessary infrastructure can facilitate student use of online education.
Ghazal Mansouri; Zeinab Sadat Rooholamini; Fatemeh Karami Robati
Abstract
Background: Choosing a medical specialty is an important choice for medical students and the healthcare system.Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the interest of last-year medical students in choosing a future medical specialty and determine effective factors in it.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional ...
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Background: Choosing a medical specialty is an important choice for medical students and the healthcare system.Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the interest of last-year medical students in choosing a future medical specialty and determine effective factors in it.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 201 medical students was performed in Iran in 2019. All medical students who completed the internship period by the end of September 2020 were selected by census method. A questionnaire was applied, the validity and reliability of which had already been registered in the Statistics Center of Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman, Iran. Data analysis was performed using descriptive methods, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, and SPSS software (version 20). A significance level of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: About 98% of students intended to choose a future medical specialty. The highest number of interested students were female (66%) and single (83.2%), with a mean age of 26.69 ± 12.22 years. The parents’ educational level of most students interested in continuing education was a bachelor’s degree or lower (52.3%). “Achieving a better economic position” (91.4%) was the most important factor for choosing a specialty. Most participants were interested in ophthalmology (18.2%). The factors “specific working hours” and “easy residency period” were indicated most frequently as effects on the preference for ophthalmology.Conclusion: The present findings provide significant insight into creating strategies to attract a number of medical students in other specialties based on the needs of the Iranian healthcare system.
Mahdieh Torkashvand; Matineh Pourrahimi; Hadi Jalilvand; Mojtaba Abdi; Ebrahim Nasiri; Fatemeh Haghi
Abstract
Background: Students’ academic failure is one of the educational problems causing the loss of allocated resources.Objectives: This study aimed to assess the factors affecting the academic failure of students and their viewpoints regarding the factors affecting educational achievement at Guilan ...
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Background: Students’ academic failure is one of the educational problems causing the loss of allocated resources.Objectives: This study aimed to assess the factors affecting the academic failure of students and their viewpoints regarding the factors affecting educational achievement at Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Guilan, Iran.Methods: The present cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 375 students in medical, nursing, and other related fields. A valid and reliable multipart questionnaire was used as a data collection tool. Based on the obtained results, the criteria for academic failure were extracted. Then, due to abnormal data distribution, Spearman nonparametric statistical test was used to analyze the data using both SPSS software (version 23) and GraphPad Prism software (version 7).Results: According to the obtained results, the frequency of academic failure in the study population was 25.6%. Moreover, 28.46% of the students were satisfied with their field of study. Academic failure showed the strongest relationships with gender, regularity, and precision in the study. Furthermore, the most effective factors in educational achievement from the students’ viewpoints were student motivation, professor’s mastery over the subject, and student occupational future.Conclusion: It is necessary to create a system to precisely investigate students’ academic failure and counseling needs to help them if necessary.
Leili Mosalanejad; Sara Maghsodzadeh
Abstract
Background: Technology acceptance comprises cognitive and psychological elements about using technology.Objectives: This descriptive study evaluated the feasibility and applicability of the LMS acceptance questionnaire in medical sciences students using native LMS during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: ...
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Background: Technology acceptance comprises cognitive and psychological elements about using technology.Objectives: This descriptive study evaluated the feasibility and applicability of the LMS acceptance questionnaire in medical sciences students using native LMS during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: This study was conducted to assess LMS acceptance and the validity of the questionnaires in Iranian society. Ten faculty members and ten students reviewed and evaluated the questionnaires for the validity of translation (content validity). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis methods were used for questionnaire items to determine the constructive validity. Moreover, a technology acceptance questionnaire was distributed among 200 users to determine the convergence validity. Finally, the reliability of the questionnaire was assessed by 30 people before, after, and simultaneously.Results: The results of this descriptive study showed that the average scores of people in finding helpful content for lessons, having a support system for problem-solving, and being convenient to use were high. In another part, confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the criteria and items by four factors. Test reliability on 30 students before and after showed that the questionnaire has good reliability in all factors. Convergence validity with the technology acceptance questionnaire showed that there was a direct and positive relationship.Conclusion: The four factors questionnaire, which comprised performance expectations, effort expectations, facilitative situations, and social influence, with feasibility, and usability, can be used as a valid questionnaire in an Iranian population.
Habibeh Ahmadipour; Diana Hajipour
Abstract
Background: Online social presence is one of the main contributors which has a significant impact on student's academic performance.Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the online social presence among medical students using the Persian Version of the Online Social Presence Questionnaire (OSPQ) ...
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Background: Online social presence is one of the main contributors which has a significant impact on student's academic performance.Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the online social presence among medical students using the Persian Version of the Online Social Presence Questionnaire (OSPQ) after determining its psychometric properties.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 303 medical students at Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2021. The participants were selected through quota sampling. A two-part online questionnaire containing demographic data and the Persian version of the Online Social Presence Questionnaire (OSPQ) was used for data collection. Exploratory and Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using SPSS version 20.0 and LISREL version 8.80. Internal consistency of the Persian version was determined. ANOVA, Independent T-test, and multiple linear regression were also used. The significance level was considered as 0.05.Results: Out of 303 medical students, 63.7 percent were female with a mean age of 22.83±2.84 years. The mean score of the social identity subscale (P = 0.001) and the total score (P = 0.03) was significantly higher in females. Also, the mean of the intimacy subscale was significantly higher in interns and basic sciences students compared to pre-clinical students. (P = 0.006) The Cronbach alpha coefficient ranged from 0.70 to 0.93 for the whole scale and its subscales. The factor loading of all items was at an acceptable level ranging from 0.4 to 0.95. Almost all of the goodness of fit indices had excellent levels.Conclusion: Our study revealed that the Persian version of OSPQ is a simple, valid, and reliable tool to assess medical students’ sense of social presence in an online environment.
Seyedeh Azam Sajadi; Jamileh Mokhtari Nouri; Nahid Rajai
Abstract
Background: The quality assurance of doctoral nursing education programs is one of the priorities of educational systems, with significant effects on the development and improvement of educational programs. Therefore, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of these programs through comparison ...
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Background: The quality assurance of doctoral nursing education programs is one of the priorities of educational systems, with significant effects on the development and improvement of educational programs. Therefore, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of these programs through comparison can be useful.Objectives: This study aimed to compare the doctoral nursing education programs in Iran and Japan.Methods: In this descriptive and comparative study, which was based on the model proposed by Beredy, the Iranian doctoral program in nursing education was compared with that of Japan in four stages of description, interpretation, juxtaposition, and comparison.Results: The doctoral nursing education program in Japan was older than its Iranian counterpart, based on historical records. The challenges of nursing education in Iran included the student admission system, inflexibility of the program, and emphasis on theoretical education. The strict rules regarding article publication in International Scientific Indexing (ISI) journals and the higher number of credits in the Iranian program, compared to its Japanese counterpart, were among the strengths of Iran’s program, increasing the level of students’ knowledge and preparation for research activities.Conclusion: Comparison of the educational systems of Iran and Japan indicated the need for a more flexible and community-based curriculum in Iran.
Fatemeh Alaee Karahroudy; Effat Sheikhbahaeddinzadeh
Abstract
Background: One of the most important tasks of a university is to assess weaknesses and build upon strengths. As the education and skill level of psychiatric nursing graduates in Iran is often unpredictable, we hope to improve the current curriculum by comparing it to a successful educational program.Objective: ...
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Background: One of the most important tasks of a university is to assess weaknesses and build upon strengths. As the education and skill level of psychiatric nursing graduates in Iran is often unpredictable, we hope to improve the current curriculum by comparing it to a successful educational program.Objective: This study compared the MSc psychiatric nursing curriculum in Iran with Canada.Methods: This is a descriptive comparative study conducted in 2018. The required information was collected from the Iran Health Ministry curriculum and Canadian universities offering psychiatric nursing graduate programs. The method used was a Beredy model that includes description, interpretation, neighborhood, and comparisonResults: The University in Canada has been established earlier than Iran. The educational program at Brandon University is focused on community needs. It is possible to complete program on a part- or full-time basis. Some courses are optional.Admission requirements include practicalpsychiatric nursing care experience and a relevant degree. In Iran the requirements are limited to a bachelor’s degree in nursing and an entrance exam. The program primarily focuses on theory, and was only offered on a full–time basis.Conclusion: The Iran educational program has weaknesses. In order to improve the quality of education, it is suggested students volunteer to have psychiatric nursing care experience. The curriculum should include administration, education, and practice. A more flexible curriculum based on the needs of Iranian society should be offered.
Amin Beigzadeh; Nikoo Yamani; Peyman Adibi; Kambiz Bahaadinbeigy
Abstract
Background: In order to improve clinical education, after evaluating the current situation and identifying the shortcomings and problems, it is essential to find strategies to change and improve the situation. This results in planning an efficient clinical education program and achieving the educational ...
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Background: In order to improve clinical education, after evaluating the current situation and identifying the shortcomings and problems, it is essential to find strategies to change and improve the situation. This results in planning an efficient clinical education program and achieving the educational goals.Objectives: This study aimed at identifying strategies for clinical medical education in Iran.Methods: This systematic review was conducted in 2017 to find strategies for clinical medical education in Iran. Bedside teaching, ward round teaching, ward round, teaching round, training round, grand round, clinical teaching, ambulatory education, and bedside round were the keywords searched in both Persian- and English-language databases. Related articles were carefully reviewed and the key information was extracted. Finally, the data were analyzed in MAXQDA software version 10.Results: After retrieving the related articles, the title and abstract of 593 papers were reviewed, and after excluding the irrelevant and duplicate ones, full-texts of 101 articles were reviewed based on the study inclusion and exclusion criteria. The strategies for clinical medical education in Iran were classified into five categories including infrastructures, areas of clinical education, educational planning, and clinical teachers and students.Conclusion: Improving the quality of clinical education and the effectiveness of the educational system depends on the identification of appropriate strategies. The identified strategies pave the way for achieving targeted educational goals.
Ali Khaki Sedigh; Mohamad Reza Ahanchian
Abstract
Background: After the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent restrictions assigned by the National Committee on Combating Coronavirus (NCCC), the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology (MSRT) set up committees to trace and analyze the outcomes of the pandemic.Objectives: This paper aimed to explain ...
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Background: After the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent restrictions assigned by the National Committee on Combating Coronavirus (NCCC), the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology (MSRT) set up committees to trace and analyze the outcomes of the pandemic.Objectives: This paper aimed to explain the policies, programs, and activities executed by MSRT and analyze the points of strength and weakness.Methods: In this report, the MSRT experience during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Iran higher education (HE) system is briefly reported by referring to pieces of evidence documented by MSRT and analyzing strengths and, predicting the outcomes toward the future. The evidence was analyzed descriptively.Results: The policies, plans, and actions were based on three key policies including participation, adaptation, and tolerance.Conclusion: Iranian HE system has changed in many aspects during the recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. MSRT instantly reorganized its activities to coordinate its decisions with NCCC.
Habibeh Ahmadipour
Fatemeh Zeynab Kiani; Ali Ahmadi
Abstract
Context Communication, as an essential human skill, is one of the most influential factors in the performance of healthcare workers. In fact, the establishment of effective communication with the recipients of healthcare services and patients can increase their satisfaction and quality of life. Due to ...
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Context Communication, as an essential human skill, is one of the most influential factors in the performance of healthcare workers. In fact, the establishment of effective communication with the recipients of healthcare services and patients can increase their satisfaction and quality of life. Due to the paucity of comprehensive research in this area, the present study aimed to investigate the barriers and facilitating factors concerning communication among healthcare workers. Evidence Acquisition This systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, MagIran, Iranmedex, Google Scholar, and SID databases, using the following keywords: “communication”, “communication barrier”, “communication facilitator”, “health system”, “nurse”, “physician”, “faculty member”, “teacher”, “student”, “health manager”, and “patient”. All searches were conducted within a 10-year period from 2008 to 2018. Results According to our literature review, 44 articles (38 quantitative and 6 qualitative) met the inclusion criteria. In these studies, “pleasant greetings” and “tidy appearance” were the most important factors facilitating the patient-physician relationship, “teacher’s modesty”, “patience”, and “respect for students” were the main factors facilitating the teacher-student relationship, and finally, “responsibility”, “empathy”, and “companionship” were identified as the most significant factors in the patient-health care worker relationship. On the other hand, the most important barriers to communication in the clinical setting were “poor introduction of the healthcare provider to patients”, “high workload and fatigue”, and “lack of training on the principles of communication skills and environmental factors”. Conclusions Based on the findings, identifying the facilitating factors and barriers to communication is the most important step in the management of health services. Communication skills training can have a beneficial effect on the health education programs for the healthcare staff. In addition, it can improve the efficacy of health services.
Amin Beigzadeh; Nikoo Yamani; Kambiz Bahaadinbeigy; Peyman Adibi
Abstract
Context In order to improve the quality of clinical education, it is necessary to investigate the current situation in clinical settings and identify its problems. This step is the most important part of modifying a clinical education program and meeting learning goals. The purpose of this study was ...
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Context In order to improve the quality of clinical education, it is necessary to investigate the current situation in clinical settings and identify its problems. This step is the most important part of modifying a clinical education program and meeting learning goals. The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges and problems of clinical medical education in Iran. Evidence Acquisition This systematic review was performed to determine the challenges and problems of clinical medical education in Iran in 2017. In order to retrieve articles, the following keywords: Clinical education, bedside teaching, clinical teaching, teaching round, ward round, ward round teaching, bedside round, teaching round, medical education, clinical round, ambulatory education, clinic education, grand round, and education in emergency were searched in reliable Persian and English databases. Then, the articles related to the research objective were carefully reviewed and key information was extracted. Data were analyzed using MAXQDA software version 10. Conclusions The problems of clinical education are in different areas. Identifying these areas and planning for them can improve clinical education status, achieve educational goals, and provide medical students with a more effective education.
Parvin Rezaei-Gazki; Ali Delavar; Abdolwahab Samavi
Abstract
Background Academic commitment as a new specialized issue has attracted the attention of educational researchers. Despite of the conducting relevant studies, it was more considered by Human-Vogel and Rabe. Their designed research tool has not yet been used in Iran. Objectives The purpose of this study ...
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Background Academic commitment as a new specialized issue has attracted the attention of educational researchers. Despite of the conducting relevant studies, it was more considered by Human-Vogel and Rabe. Their designed research tool has not yet been used in Iran. Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the factor structure and reliability of this tool in Iranian learners. Methods The primary tool consisted of 30 items and 5 dimensions (students’ satisfaction with their studies, level of commitment, investment, quality of alternatives, and meaningfulness). In this cross-sectional study, 449 pre-university students of Bandar Abbas city were selected through multi-stage sampling. Data were analyzed using AMOS and SPSS software. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine factor structure. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and Gottman and Spearman-Brown split-half coefficients, were used to test the reliability. Results After examination the validity of the tool, five items were excluded and finally a questionnaire including 25 questions was obtained. Beta coefficients were greater than 0.4. Model fit indices, including root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), Comparative fit index (CFI), goodness of fit index (GFI), adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI), normed fit index (NFI), incremental fit index (IFI), and Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) were obtained 0.04, 0.95, 0.91, 0.90, 0.90, 0.95, and 0.94, respectively, indicating the fitness of this five-factor tool. A Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.87, a Gottman’s split-half of 0.65, and a Spearman-Brown split-half of 0.68 were obtained, indicating the appropriate reliability of the instrument. Conclusions Based on the results, the final version of the tool seems to be suitable for assessing academic commitment in Iranian learners in the Iran educational systems.
Ali Reza Kalantari; Noora Rafiee; Saeed Hosseni; Somaye Noori Hekmat; Ali Akbar Haghdoost; Reza Dehnavieh
Abstract
Background Medical education development (MED) centers are established in order to improve the quality of medical education. It seems that after more than two decades since the establishment, the centers still have difficulties to perform some tasks. Objectives According to the important role of MED ...
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Background Medical education development (MED) centers are established in order to improve the quality of medical education. It seems that after more than two decades since the establishment, the centers still have difficulties to perform some tasks. Objectives According to the important role of MED centers, the current study aimed at adapting the performances of such centers with their assigned tasks. Methods The current qualitative applied study was conducted in 2013. The statistical population of the study included managers of MED centers in Iran. Data were collected through a questionnaire containing open questions. During a national meeting the questionnaire distributed among 40 managers of MED centers and then analyzed using content analysis. Results More than half of the major functions that the managers stated, were referred to the first, second, and fourth tasks of the centers, and only 18% of the major functions were related to other tasks (11 cases). About 28% of the functions performed in such centers had no direct correlation with any of the 14 tasks. Conclusions Despite the history of MED centers for several decades, they are not justified in respect to their duties. It is recommended that guidelines be developed to address all duties and adequately monitor their implementation.
Seyedeh Azam Sajadi; Nahid Rajai; Jamileh Mokhtari Nouri
Abstract
Background Lack of suitable educational programs in nursing causes irreparable damage to the community’s health and reduces the academic credibility of universities. In Iran, the master of science in nursing (MScN) program is not tailored to the needs of the community, and graduates lack the required ...
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Background Lack of suitable educational programs in nursing causes irreparable damage to the community’s health and reduces the academic credibility of universities. In Iran, the master of science in nursing (MScN) program is not tailored to the needs of the community, and graduates lack the required nursing skills. Considering the distinguished quality of higher education in Japan, the aim of the present study is to perform a comparative analysis of MScN programs in Iran and Japan. Methods In this descriptive comparative study, an extensive electronic search was carried out in Persian and English databases, including PubMed, Iran Medex, Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, scientific information database (SID), and MagIran among articles published during 1997 - 2016. The gathered data were categorized and compared according to the study objectives. Results In comparison with Iran, Japan has a longer history of postgraduate nursing programs, and its educational system has prominent strengths and advantages including: admission interviews; English language requirements for admission; versatility and flexibility of the educational curricula to facilitate student employment during education; integration of research-based units in the curricula; and attention to community-based and home care nursing. Conclusions Comparison of the educational systems of Iran and Japan highlights the need for more flexible curricula in Iran in accordance with the community’s needs.
Fatemeh Khademian; Mohtaram Nematollahi; Fariba Farahmand
Volume 13, Issue 6 , March 2017, , Pages 617-625
Abstract
Background & Objective: Studying at a university is one of the important stressful situations Previous studies have shown the adverse effects of stress on students physical and mental health The aim of the current study was to determine the sources of academic stress and its relation to demographic ...
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Background & Objective: Studying at a university is one of the important stressful situations Previous studies have shown the adverse effects of stress on students physical and mental health The aim of the current study was to determine the sources of academic stress and its relation to demographic variables in students at the School of Medical Management and Information of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Iran Methods: This crosssectional study was conducted on 95 students (65 women and 30 men) with a mean age of 219 ± 1830 years (age range: 1830) The subjects were selected using stratified random sampling method Data were gathered using the Academic Stress Questionnaire (ASQ) and analyzed using descriptive statistical methods independent ttest the Pearson correlation coefficient and ANOVA Results: The findings indicated that the domain of difficulty managing work family and university had the highest mean score (402 ± 231) and the domain of difficulty with interaction at the university had the lowest mean score (261 ± 184) A significant negative association was found between age and the domain of difficulty managing work family and university (r = 0026 P = 001) In addition the mean score of second year students was significantly higher in the domains of difficulty with academic performance in class (P = 003) and difficulty with academic performance outside the class (P = 004) compared to other domains The most common stressors were observed in the domain of difficulty managing work family and university This domain was more important among younger students Conclusion: It is recommended that more attention be paid to this important issue in student educational and counseling programs
Hakimeh Hazrati; Vahedeh Zaregavgani; Mortaza Ghojazadeh; Leila Vahedi
Volume 13, Issue 3 , September 2016, , Pages 246-254
Abstract
Background & Objective: The main prospect of medical education is improving the quality of health care provided by clinicians The quality and timing of services is related to medical education that can train researchers to solve the problems of the changing requirements of society Problembased learning ...
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Background & Objective: The main prospect of medical education is improving the quality of health care provided by clinicians The quality and timing of services is related to medical education that can train researchers to solve the problems of the changing requirements of society Problembased learning (PBL) as a studentcentered learning approach can provide the context for such medical education The aim of present study was to obtain appropriate information about the effective use of PBL in Iranian medical education from available studies through a systematic review Methods: In the present study 16 studies on the effect of PBL on learning satisfaction and efficacy of medical education were reviewed This systematic review was performed by searching the Google Scholar PubMed Magiran Iran Medex and SID databases using the keywords problembased learning medical education and Iran We included studies that were published from 2003 to 2015 in Iran The results of all studies were reviewed by two researchers using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) and the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklists Results: From among the 130 selected articles 16 studies were included in the study The level of satisfaction with this type of training was reported as high The students performance was satisfactory with this educational method This method of training had a significant effect on the increasing of student learning particularly in the clinical and practical fields and strengthening of active learning selfdirection motivation and critical thinking Conclusion: According to the results of this study PBL can be used as an effective educational method for medical education in Iran
Khadijeh Jamshidi-Moghaddam; Ahmad Reza Nasr; Seyed Ebrahim Mirshah-Jafari
Volume 13, Issue 1 , April 2016, , Pages 20-33
Abstract
Background & Objective: Foreign students encounter educational problems which make studying in the host country difficult Given the importance of the educational problems of foreign students and identifying the factors which alleviate these problems this study examined the educational problems of ...
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Background & Objective: Foreign students encounter educational problems which make studying in the host country difficult Given the importance of the educational problems of foreign students and identifying the factors which alleviate these problems this study examined the educational problems of international students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Iran Methods: This was a quantitativequalitative study with a descriptiveanalytical design In the qualitative section interviews were conducted with 14 foreign students and in the quantitative section 56 students were selected through random sampling proportional to sample size Semistructured interviews and a researchermade questionnaire were used to collect information Data analysis was conducted using categorization methods descriptive statistics univariate ttest ANOVA post hoc test and multiple regression in SPSS software Results: In the qualitative section the foreign students educational problems included weakness in understanding Persian different educational system the professors inappropriate teaching method and dissatisfaction with textbooks In the quantitative section the educational problems were not significant at a 005 level Moreover the students problems in terms of culture and the length of stay in Iran showed significant differences Conclusion: The results of predictor factors of educational problems revealed that cultural dissimilarity and short presence in Iran are the main predictor factors Therefore in order to motivate learning in foreign students and thereby decrease their educational problems it is necessary to familiarize them with Iranian customs and hold classes to introduce them to the Iranian educational system
Nasrin Tabasinejad; Narges Khanjani; Fatemeh Balali-Meybodi; Fatemeh Nazari; Mohabbat Mohseni
Volume 12, Issue 4 , January 2016, , Pages 618-625
Abstract
Background & Objective: Determination of priorities and suitable educational methods enable the optimal use of the limited resources available Due to the effective role of family physicians in health promotion and the necessity of educational planning according to needs assessment this study aimed ...
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Background & Objective: Determination of priorities and suitable educational methods enable the optimal use of the limited resources available Due to the effective role of family physicians in health promotion and the necessity of educational planning according to needs assessment this study aimed to assess the educational requirements of rural family physicians working in Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran Methods: This crosssectional analyticaldescriptive study was conducted on 102 rural family physicians in 2014 Census method was applied for sampling Data were collected using a twopart researchermade questionnaire The validity of the questionnaire was approved by professors To determine the reliability of the research tool testretest method and Cronbachs alpha (096) were applied Statistical tests were used to analyze the data using SPSS software Results: The most required educational needs were circumcision biopsy of the skin and mucosa pulling nails speckle removal and surgical excision of skin verruca Continuing Medical Education was reported as the leading effective educational method There was significant relationship between educational requirements and total years of work experience and years of work experience as family physician However there was no significant relationship between educational requirements and physicians gender age place of education and educational interval gap Conclusion: To enhance knowledge and skills of family physicians in addition to revision of physicians educational curriculum educational planning based on needs assessment is required Thus it is suggested that the Health Care and Continuing Medical Education Office in Kerman University of Medical Sciences take the results of this study into consideration in order to promote the efficacy of the educational programs
Jahangir Haghani; Molouk Torabi; Armin Rafiee-Pour
Volume 12, Issue 4 , January 2016, , Pages 671-678
Abstract
Background & Objective: Clinical training is of great importance in dentistry and has a direct impact on health of the society and treatment of patients The present study was conducted with the aim to obtain students point of views about facilities physical environment and training methods in the ...
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Background & Objective: Clinical training is of great importance in dentistry and has a direct impact on health of the society and treatment of patients The present study was conducted with the aim to obtain students point of views about facilities physical environment and training methods in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology School of Dentistry of Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran Methods: This descriptive and crosssectional study was conducted on dental students who had had passed at least 1 unit of radiology course The participants were selected through census sampling method The data collection tool was a questionnaire consisting of 28 items in 5 scales and a section on demographic information The 5 scales consisted of evaluation of equipment quality of education in terms of diagnosis skills quality of education in terms of clinical skills practical education on patients and miscellaneous questions The questionnaire was designed by the researchers and its validity and reliability were evaluated Data were analyzed in SPSS software using ttest and analysis of variance (ANOVA) All Pvalues of less than 005 were considered significant Results: Of the 146 respondents 432% were men and 568% were women The mean score of the questionnaire was 7624 ± 1442 from a total of 140 Overall students satisfaction was at a moderate level Students satisfaction level with practical training in different techniques and bone and dental fractures diagnosis using radiography was low In the students view the quantity and quality of radiography devices was inadequate There was no statistically significant association between different inputs in terms of satisfaction and the students gender Conclusion: The students in the present study were relatively satisfied with radiology courses However in their opinion the quantity and quality of radiology devices were low Thus the repairing and updating of the radiography devices is recommended
Mahla Salajegheh; Bahareh Bahmanbijari; Mostafa Shokouhi; Askar Safipour Afshar; Amin Beigzadeh
Volume 12, Supplement , July 2015, , Pages 119-130
Abstract
Background and Objective: Outpatient educational environments are used for the teaching of a broad range of medical disciplines. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to assess these environments with valid and reliable tools. The Ambulatory Care Learning Education Environment Measure (ACLEEM) can be ...
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Background and Objective: Outpatient educational environments are used for the teaching of a broad range of medical disciplines. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to assess these environments with valid and reliable tools. The Ambulatory Care Learning Education Environment Measure (ACLEEM) can be used for this purpose. The objective of this study was to assess the educational environment at outpatient clinics in teaching hospitals of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.Methods: This descriptive-analytical study which was cross-sectional in nature was conducted in Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2013-14. The study population, based on census sampling, consisted of 70 residents specializing in internal, gynecological, pediatric, and surgical disciplines. The data collection tool was a valid and reliable questionnaire consisting of 2 sections, demographic questions and 50 questions in 8 domains. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and descriptive tests (frequency, mean, and standard deviation) and analytical tests (ANOVA and t-test).Results: The total score of the questionnaire was 62.90 which showed the partially desirable status of the outpatient educational environment in the studied population. In terms of the total scores for each domain, the domains of clinical teacher competence (14.91 ± 2.99), clinical activity and patient care (12.85 ± 2.78), and time allocation for nonclinical activities (8.94 ± 2.93) obtained the highest scores, respectively. There was no significant relationship between sex, age, and educational year and mean score of each domain (P > 0.05). However, this relationship was significant for the field of study variable (P < 0.05). The highest mean score was related to gynecology residents (65.68 ± 5.7) and the lowest mean score was related to surgery residents (60.60 ± 5.9).Conclusion: The findings showed that the resident's perspective of the outpatient environment is not satisfactory. Therefore, it is expected that the related authorities provide a favorable and conducive environment for teaching and learning through planning.