Strides in Development of Medical Education

Abstract Background & Objective : Attention to the challenges that trainers and trainees may face during educational programs is very beneficial for achieving maximum efficiency in educational settings This study was conducted to identify the challenges experienced by interns and attends during ambulatory pediatrics teaching programs in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Methods : This qualitative study was a small part of the evaluation of ambulatory pediatrics teaching program based on CIPP model Seven attends and seven interns were selected through purposeful sampling and interviewed using semistructured interviews in the summer and fall of 2009 Results : Interpretational analysis of interviews resulted in 6 categories named planning faculty members interns instructional activities learning resources and evaluation and 21 subcategories The suggestions given by participants for some challenges were considered too Conclusion : Attention to the aforementioned challenges and suggestions can be very beneficial in solving the present challenges

Abstract Background & Objective : Medical education provides an opportunity to train individuals for patient care Evaluation of physicians capabilities as an important part of each educational system can reflect the efficacy of Medical education curriculum and also continuous educational programs The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical skills of family physicians in Fars/Iran by using Observed Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE) Methods : In this cross sectional study from a total of 320 physicians employed in the family physician project of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 79 physicians were selected by systematic sampling and participated in 19 designed stations Data were gathered by a structured questionnaire with acceptable validity and reliability Correlation tests and ttest with significant level of 005 were used for data analysis Results : From 79 participants 49 ones (62%) were male The total OSCE score was 190 and the acquired mean score by participants was 113±15 There was a significant relationship between OSCE score and participants gender (0004) while no significant relationship was observed between OSCE score and variables of graduation place and employment status Conclusion : Poor capability of family physicians in providing good health care services requires several interventions for improving their clinical skills

Abstract Background & Objective : The 360degree evaluation method is used to assess residents performance by means other than attends opinions Resident evaluation instruments such as questionnaires for 360degree assessment should be feasible reliable and valid The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility and psychometric properties of the 360degree assessment questionnaires Methods : At first questionnaires were developed based on an extensive literature review and expert panel Sixitem questionnaires were distributed to a consecutive sample of residents (self & peers) medical students nurses and patients Mean scores of respondents in each category were calculated Cronbachs alpha was computed to examine the internal consistency Factor analysis was used to clarify the factoral structure of the data Spearman correlation coefficient was computed to examine the correlation between the evaluators scores Results : Except for faculty members and to some extent patients all evaluators completed the questionnaires The cronbachs alpha for all of the five instruments were above 095 Content validity was acceptable according to the literature reviews and expert panel Factor analysis revealed all six items loaded on a single factor A majority (80%) of correlation coefficients were not significant for evaluators scores Conclusion : Based on this pilot study 360degree assessment tools are feasible reliable and valid measures to evaluate core competencies of residents

Abstract   Background & Objective : The variety and large volume of study materials of Medicine is an important issue and for a good learning adapting adequate study skills and habits is necessary for the students of Medicine A regular study plan as well as following appropriate study skills and habits is of a great importance This study was carried out to investigate study skills and habits of students in Tehran Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences   Methods : In this descriptive crosssectional study a questionnaire including 27 questions for the assessment of study habits ( time management concentration reading speed note taking and comprehension) was designed based on cook counselling center and after confirming the reliability and validity (α=089) was distributed among medical students Lower mean score showed better study habits In statistical analysis p

Abstract Background & Objective : Teaching basic principles of nursing cares requires applying innovative educational methods Conceptual map method as a new teaching strategy facilitates creative thinking teaching learning and evaluation processes This study aimed at comparing this method with traditional teaching methods in order to use the results for improving theoretical trainings and consequently the quality of nursing care services Methods : This semiexperimental study was performed in a pre & post test form Nursing students of one semester in Rasht Shaheed Beheshti Nursing & Midwifery School were taught 4 sessions of water and electrolytes by conceptual map method (experimental group) and the nursing students of the following semester were taught by the traditional method (control group) The two groups were compared by applying pre and post tests Data were analyzed through SPSS version 16 and by using Chisquare paired ttest and independent ttest Results : Teaching by conceptual map method could significantly (p

Abstract Background & Objective : Since evidencebased decision making is among essential issues in medical education it is expected that educational policy makers use the results of researches for improving the quality of health care services In this study Iranian journals of Medical Education were investigated to determine the most frequent topics discussed in this field Methods : In this cross sectional study a total of 483 articles in three Iranian journals of Medical Education from 2000 to 2008 were investigated and their data including authors abstract subject research type and the involved university were entered in EXCEL for content analysis Results : form the 483 articles 8% (n=38) belonged to the Journal of Strides in Development of Medical Education published in Kerman University of Medical Sciences 60% (n=290) appeared in the Iranian journal of medical education published by Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and 32% (n=155) were in journal of Medical Education published by Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences The most frequent topics were respectively educational management (159 articles 33%) and teaching methods (128 articles 265%) while the least frequent topic (10 articles 21%) was communication skills Conclusion : Research priority in medical education should be considered

Abstract Background & Objective : Uncivil behavior strongly disturbs teachinglearning process by creating conflicts and tension in studentteacher relationships The aim of this study was to study the attitudes of students and faculty members of Golestan University toward uncivil behavior in educational settings Methods : In this analytical descriptive study 50 faculty members and 150 Medical students of Golestan University of Medical Sciences selected by convenience sampling were asked to complete a valid and reliable questionnaire about disruptive and threatening uncivil behavior Results : In whole 23% of faculty members had never observed uncivil and 56% of them had never observed threatening behavior in their students during the last year Among students 302% had never observed uncivil behavior in their teachers during the last year The relationships between faculty members perspective and variables of age and work experience were significant (P=005) Conclusion : Although in this study the frequency and severity of uncivil behavior were not considerable however due to the harmful outcome of them applying strategies to create safe teaching learning environments is highly necessary

Abstract   Background & Objective : The most important aim of each educational approach is to promote learners level of knowledge and attitude Undoubtedly Service Learning educational methods are more efficient than others The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of Service Learning Method on knowledge and attitude of nursing students in regard to AIDS   Methods : In a quasi experimental study 34 nursing students in the 2nd semester of 2009 were selected by census sampling method and randomly divided into two experimental and control groups Educational program of AIDS was thought to the experimental and control groups by service learning and traditional methods respectively Knowledge and attitude of the two groups as well as a target group (51 employed nurses) were determined before and after the intervention Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and Chisquare test   Results : Mean post test knowledge and attitude scores of experimental and control group showed significant difference (p

Abstract Background & Objective : Academic failure in students of Medicine is one of the important educational issues that deserve serious attempts for the identification of its underlying factors and resolving This study was designed to find the rate of academic failure and its underlying causes in Medical students of Urmia University of Medical Science Methods : In this descriptive crosssectional study demographic and academic information of all students of Medicine in clinical setting who had been accepted in Urmia University of Medical Sciences in the academic years of 19992001 were collected from their academic files Data were analyzed through SPSS and using Chisquare and ttests Statistical significant level was considered 005 Results : A total of 176 academic files belonged to the entrant students in 2000 (n=71) 2001 (n=48) and 2002 (n=55) were studied The rate of academic failure was 223% in basic sciences period 07% in preinternship period and 265% in internship period Failure rate in preexternal examination was 1156% and in preinternal examination it was 56% Academic failure showed significant relationship with class nonattendance (p

Abstract Background & Objective : The academic progress of university students and its related factors are among research priorities in education This study was performed to assess the academic progress of students in Zahedan University of Medical Sciences and the related factors Methods In this crosssectional study 380 students of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in the first semester of 2009 were studied Data related to the students demographic features and academic standing (University and high school grade point averages number of failed courses and probation cases) were collected using a questionnaire Data analysis was done through SPSS 15 and using ttest Chi square Analysis of Variance and coefficient of correlation Results : There was a significant difference among students in regard to their university grade point average There were a significant relationship between the grade point average in university and high school (p < 005) The university grade point average showed significant relationship with variables of sex residency state and using university accommodation In whole 24% had experienced probation in at least one semester and 50% of those who were not interested in their field of study had failed in some course There was a significant relationship between the rate of interest in field of study and the rate of failed courses (p=005) Conclusion : Attention to some factors in student admission such as students residency and high school grade point average as well as improving dormitory conditions can be effective in academic progress of students

Abstract Background & Objective : Failure to pass academic courses and graduation delay are among important issues in educational systems In regard to the importance of recognizing causes of academic failure this study was designed to find risk factors of course failure academic probation and graduation delay in medical graduates of Kashan University of Medical Sciences Methods : In this crosssectional study all graduates of Medical school in kashan University of Medical Sciences from 1986 to 2003 (n=586) were selected through census sampling method Demographic features the incidence and state of retaking academic courses academic probation and graduation delay were recorded in a questionnaire Then probable risk factors were determined by analyzing data through Chisquare and Fisher exact tests and logistic regression Results : Academic probation was seen in 32 ones (51%) and it had the highest prevalence in the first two semesters Course retaking and graduation delay had respectively occurred in 98 (1672%) and 189 subjects (323%) Biochemistry and Professional English were the most frequent retaken courses The most important risk factors of academic failure were found to be interuniversity transfers following quota system in student admission nondomestic admission being married and having low high school Diploma grade point average Conclusion : Considering the important role of demographic features educational background and admission criteria in academic standing modifying admission requirements as well as identifying and supporting at risk students are highly suggested

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