Original Article
Raziye Emambakhsh; Moghaddameh Mirzaee; Abedin Iranpour; Roghaieh Ershad Sarabi
Abstract
Background: The group discussion method is one of the student-centered and active teaching methods in which learners actively participate in educational activities using discussion, and they are given the opportunity to share their opinions and experiences with others.Objectives: The present study was ...
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Background: The group discussion method is one of the student-centered and active teaching methods in which learners actively participate in educational activities using discussion, and they are given the opportunity to share their opinions and experiences with others.Objectives: The present study was conducted to compare the effects of the group discussion method and the lecture method on health workers’ knowledge and attitudes.Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 70 health workers working in Baft, Kerman province, were selected by census method and divided into two groups of 35 people. Asthma-related educational content was presented for one group as a lecture and the other as a group discussion. Before and after the intervention, health workers’ knowledge and attitudes scores were evaluated and compared using a researcher-made questionnaire.Results: The mean age of participants was 38 ± 2.7 years. After the intervention, the mean score of attitude was 65.86 ± 6 in the lecture group and 68.66 ± 4.7 in the group discussion group, indicating a significant difference (p = 0.04). The mean score of knowledge after the intervention was 11.4 ± 1.66 in the lecture group and 11.28 ± 1.6 in the group discussion group, which was not statistically significant (p = 0.77). In both groups, the mean scores of knowledge and attitude increased significantly after the intervention (p<0.0001).Conclusion: The results showed that education affected the increase of health workers’ knowledge and attitudes in both groups. Also, the group discussion method had a greater effect on increasing the attitude of individuals compared to the lecture method; however, this effect was not significant for knowledge. Therefore, it can be concluded that for the training of health workers, it is better to use integrated teaching methods to create deep and efficient learning as well as positive attitude and motivation.
Brief report
Zahra Zahedi; Hamid Salehiniya; Afagh Zarei; Hamid Abbaszadeh
Abstract
Background: Due to the widespread utilization of electronic exams, neglecting their quality is a major threat. Assessing the quality of electronic exams plays a decisive role in determining the efficacy of electronic learning.Objectives: This study aimed to assess the quality of electronic exams held ...
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Background: Due to the widespread utilization of electronic exams, neglecting their quality is a major threat. Assessing the quality of electronic exams plays a decisive role in determining the efficacy of electronic learning.Objectives: This study aimed to assess the quality of electronic exams held at the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak.Methods: Following a cross-sectional design, this study included all electronic exams of the electronic test center of Birjand University of Medical Sciences during the academic year of 2020. Reliability, discrimination index (DI), and difficulty index (DIF) of exams were used to assess the quality. Descriptive statistics and frequency distributions were used to describe the data.Results: Out of 101 E-exams, 59.4% had appropriate DIF, 61.4% had low DI, and 66.3% had unfavorable reliability. Also, 38.6% of exams had high DIF (easy questions). For all exams, the mean of DIF, DI, and reliability was 0.66±0.14, 0.28±0.08, and 0.56±0.31, respectively. The mean of DI (P= 0.30) and reliability (P= 0.09) was not significantly different based on faculty. The mean of DIF was significantly different according to the faculty (P=0.03).Conclusion: Concerning the quality of e-exams, most problems are related to the DI and reliability. It is recommended to hold empowerment workshops on how to design exam questions for faculty members to get them acquainted with strategies to increase the reliability and discrimination index of the exam.
