Research Methodology Indices and Medical Practitioner Students Dissertations (Kermanshah 1988-2005)

Dissertations are important part of medical practitioner students training modules and may increase their knowledge and skills in the research methodology. This research was conducted to study ten research methodology indexes in medical students dissertations in Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences from 1988 to 2005. This is an analytical-descriptive study. 218 general medical practitioner student original dissertations were selected in randomization based on their graduation year during 18 years. According to the number of dissertations and graduation year they were divided into five sub-groups and the mean scores of the dissertations were compared in these time periods. Data was extracted using a check list consisting of 91 items related to 10 research methodology indices; title‚ abstract‚ problem statement‚ literature review‚ objectives and hypotheses‚ material and methods‚ findings‚ discussion ‚ conclusion and references by one of well trained lecturers. The score were given to each of the indexes, were determined in terms of their relevant importance. Distinct mark dissertations were assumed 20 scores and divided into five categories based on Likert Scale. Chi-square test, independent T- test, ANOVA and Post -hoc Tukeys test were used for statistical analysis. The mean and standard deviation of the total scores in ten research methodology indices was 8.77±3.11 out of 20 for these dissertations. Except title index and findings index that received very high scores, the rest indices received moderate, weak, and very weak scores. The mean and standard deviation of the total scores in10 research methodology indices in the first periodical section was 5.90±1.54 which increased to 7.73±2,36, 8.62±2.53, 11.28±2.41, 12.40±2.33 respectively for the second, third, fourth and fifth periodic sections. In other words, the means and standard deviation of the total scores in the second, third, fourth and fifth periodic sections in comparison with the first section increased 30.5%, 11.94%, 30.85% and 9.93% respectively. ANOVA test showed significant difference between total scores mean in five periodic sections. According to Post–hoc Tukeys test there were significant differences between all the time periods except two of them. Present study showed an improving trend in ten research methodology indices during the last 18 years. We can conclude that some factors such cchanging dissertations writing instructions, attending in research methodology workshops, increasing facilities to access to medical databases may be the main causes of this improvement trend.