Investigation of correspondence between learning needs and the content of psychiatry & pediatric retraining programs from the participant's point of view

Learning needs assessment is the first step in educational program development. The aims of this study were to identify the priorities of educational needs and to clarify the correspondence between educational needs and contents of two retraining programs held in Kerman Medical Educational development center from the point of view participating physicians. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 100 physicians (50 pediatricians & 50 psychiatrists) participating in psychiatry and pediatric retraining programs. Subjects were asked about their learning needs on more than 20 clinical topics and the correspondence between learning needs and retraining program content before and after the program respectively. In both groups 22% were female and 78% were male. Mean age and work experience were 34 and 7 years respectively. In psychiatrists group, the maximum mean scores were attained for “substance abuse related disorders” (4.43) in learning needs and “addiction definitions, factors and prevention” (4.36) in correspondence between needs and program content. The minimum mean scores were related to “stress disorders” (3.48) in learning needs and “etiology” (3.07) in correspondence between needs and program content. In pediatricians group, the maximum mean score was attained for “acute respiratory infection” in both learning needs (4.32) and correspondence between needs and program content (4.43). The minimum mean scores were related to “leishmaniosis” (3.16) in learning needs and “metabolic disorders” (3.24) in correspondence between needs and program content. In both groups, there was a significant correlation between learning needs and correspondence of needs and program content (P<0.001). There were also significant correlations between age and learning needs in pediatricians (r=0.42, P<0.05) and between work experience and correspondence of needs and program content in psychiatrists (r=-0.43) Positive correlation between learning needs and program content in both held programs is evident of managers’ attention to the learning needs and their attempt for planning retraining programs with higher rate of correspondence between learning needs and program content. Evaluation of the present retraining programs for planning more efficient programs is recommended.