Strides in Development of Medical Education
Volume:12 Issue: 4, 2016

Recognition of the causes and correlates of academic failure, which is one of the failures of the education system, is an important practical issue in education researches. Despite the large number of studies in this field in Iran, no comprehensive reviews of all published documents in this respect have been carried out. Thus, the aim of the present study was the systematic review of all texts published during the previous 15 years and determination of the role of individual, personality, and social factors related to academic failure of students. In the present study, documents were systematically reviewed and information gathered. Articles, which were related to the causes of academic failure of students of medical universities in Iran and published from March 1999 until February 2010, were studied. Using census method, 1008 articles were screened. The full text of 26 articles with minimum quality of research was available. Based on the findings of the study, male gender, higher age of entry to college, marriage, mental and physical problems, lack of interest in the field of education, lower average score of school diploma or previous degree, longer duration of time from diploma to university admission, lack of studying during the term, greater use of the internet, and lack of scientific and research activities are individual factors that can lead to academic failure in students. Based on the systematic review of literature, the causes of academic failure of students were having a second job, living in the dormitory, and a non-empirical diploma. Among familial and social factors, low education level of father and mother, financial problems, family problems, large number of family members, poor social activity, and being an extrovert were associated with academic failure. Despite the many studies on the causes of academic failure, it seems that the standards and definitions used in different studies vary. Therefore, to promote the quality of work, standardization must be performed. The views of faculty members were largely consistent with the facts found in the literature. This showed that university teachers’ experiences in this regard are reliable. Moreover, considering the major listed causes, it seems that groups who are at higher risk of academic failure can be identified and preventive measures applied to them.

Dentistry has been widely acknowledged as being associated with high levels of stress. This stress originates in the process of dental education. The aim of the present study was to evaluate dental environment stress (DES) in students of the School of Dentistry of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 165 students. Data were collected using the Dental Environment Stress Questionnaire (consisting of 32 items in 6 scales) and demographic information questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS software using t-test and ANOVA. P-value was considered at 5%. Of the 165 respondents, 53.3% were women and 78.2% were single. Their mean age was 23.63 ± 2.94 years, and mean score was 16.05 ± 1.10. The mean of DES score was 82.60 ± 14.53 out of a total of 128. In academic factors, fear of exam and failure of the course were the most important stressors. There was a statistically significant association between mean DES score and gender. There was no statistically significant association between mean DES score and marriage status, student`s work, and priority of field selection. The results of the present study were similar to that of previous studies. They showed the existence of DES. Academic factors were one of the most important stressors.

Mobile learning, as a new stage of development in e-learning, provides opportunities for information transfer, and strengthening and improving lifelong learning in students of medical sciences. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of mobile technology solutions on effective deployment of mobile learning in medical education based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). This was an objective-based applied research and, based on the method of data collection, a descriptive survey. The statistical population consisted of all faculty members of the Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in 2014. The sample size (n = 188) was determined using Cochran formula. Data were collected using the Mobile Technology Development Strategies Questionnaires and Davis’ TAM. Data analysis was performed using the correlation coefficient, t-test, confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and path analysis and LISREL and SPSS software. Instructional strategies, administrative-structural, managerial, and motivational–recreational, respectively, had the most significant effect (at the level of 0.01) on the teachers’ perception of the usefulness of mobile learning and the simplicity of its use. Based on TAM, these two components had positive effects on attitude toward using and deciding to use mobile technology. Thereby, they have significant positive effects on the application of mobile technology in teaching and learning by teachers (at the level of 0.01). Based on these results, TAM was approved according to the guidelines provided on mobile learning development in the study population, and thus, has deployment potential in the target population.

Publishing in journals indexed in well-known indexes is the best way to present an article internationally. It also illustrates the contribution of scholars to the advancement of knowledge in the world. This study aimed to investigate the scientific output of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in Web of Science (WOS) during 2004 to 2013. This applied research uses scientometrics and citation methods to investigate the scientific publications of Kerman University of Medical Sciences during 2004-2013. The data were gathered from Web of Science. During this time period, researchers at Kerman University of Medical Sciences had published 1053 documents in WOS. Most of the documents were in article format. The growth rate of scientific contribution was 70% and the university’s H-index was 30. The papers’ distribution followed the Lotka’s law. In total, the papers had received 4619 citations. Only 2.47% of papers were written by one author. The studied researchers had the most collaboration with Tehran University of Medical Sciences among Iranian universities and the University of Amsterdam among foreign universities. The fields pharmacy and pharmacology had produced the most papers. The results indicated a growing trend in publications and high rates of scientific collaboration by Kerman University of Medical Sciences. It is suggested that different departments follow the experience of departments with the most productivity in order to increase their output. In this way all departments will contribute to the university’s scientific output. Moroever, new policies should be considered to increase the citation rate.

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.

This cross-sectional, analytical-descriptive study was conducted on 102 rural family physicians in 2014. Census method was applied for sampling. Data were collected using a two-part researcher-made questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was approved by professors. To determine the reliability of the research tool, test-re-test method, and Cronbach's alpha (0.96) were applied. Statistical tests were used to analyze the data using SPSS software.

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.

To enhance knowledge and skills of family physicians, in addition to revision of physician’s 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.

Little attention has been paid to generating systematic evidence-based qualitative approaches to effective education. This study aimed to explore postgraduate student's and mentor's view points, experiences and perceptions about effective education and its related factors in Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran. In this qualitative study, using content analysis method and purposive sampling, 32 postgraduate students and 7 mentors were recruited. An interview guide was used to collect data through focus groups via in-depth interviews. After obtaining verbal informed consent, data were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using content analysis method. To ensure validity of the data, the acceptability and confirmability criteria were utilized. Two main themes were extracted from the viewpoint of postgraduate students and the mentors, the direct and indirect factors related to effective education. Direct factors included the factors related to student, mentor, educational environment and motivation. Indirect factors were national educational system, evaluation system for students and economic factors. Both postgraduate students and mentors believe that effective education is a complex issue and macro-factors such as educational system and micro-ones such as mentors, and students, characteristics are important. In addition, there is inconsistency in student's and the mentor's perception about the roles of the other one mentors believe that this is the responsibility of the students to learn and be self-motivated, while the students mentione that this is mainly the mentor' responsibility. This is an important topic which should be considered for planning effective education.

Constructivism is an approach that has profound effects on learning and teaching approaches, and thus, alters education, teaching, learner, teachers’ roles, and learning environment. The medical sciences are not exempt from this effect. On the other hand, curriculum is the most important element for the realization of the goals and general mission of the educational system. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the application of constructivist curriculum at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. This was a descriptive survey. The study population consisted of postgraduate students from 4 schools of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Through stratified random sampling method, 200 participants were selected. The research instrument was a questionnaire, the validity and reliability of which were approved. In the descriptive statistics section, mean and standard deviation were used, and in the inferential statistics section, a independent t-test, t-test, and ANOVA were used. A significant difference was observed between the mean test curriculum elements and theoretical mean of the scale used. This meant that curriculum elements based on the constructivism approach were lower than average in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Numerous studies have been conducted on this approach in medical education, but this topic has not gained much attention in Iran. According to the findings, it is suggested that teachers abandon the traditional approach to teaching and utilize newer approaches such as constructivism.

Medical education is based on both practical skills and theoretical knowledge. Clinical skills training is an essential component of medical education. One of the best evaluation methods for educational systems is to determine learner's opinions on the quality of teaching. In this study, senior medical student's views of practical education and clinical skills were studied.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2012 on 122 senior medical interns in their 14th semester. A questionnaire consisting of 18 items regarding clinical and communication skills and 35 items regarding practical measures was distributed among participants. Descriptive statistical methods were used to analyze the acquired data.

Among the participants, 11.3% and 48.7% reported a very high rate and high rate of communication skills, respectively. Moreover, 62.5% of students reported that they had received the necessary education on first aid skills, and only 13.7% and 2.5% reported low and very low ability in this regard.

In terms of obtaining accurate and purposeful clinical history and data recording, the students had received favorable training. However, other skills were reported to be at low and very low levels.

In order to improve the quality of higher education programs and make them dynamic, quantitative and qualitative evaluations and assessments are required. In this study, the context, input, process, and product (CIPP) evaluation model was used to evaluate the School of Medicine at Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2014. The evaluation of this school, based on the CIPP model, consisted of the 4 components of context, input, process, and output. The sample included 69 students, 20 professors, and 12 postgraduates. A researcher made questionnaire was used to collect data. The scores of 0-1.5, 1.5-3.5, and 3.5-5 were considered as representing poor conditions, relatively favorable conditions, and favorable conditions, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test). From the perspective of the participants of the research, the status of context, input, process, and output, and in general, the School of Medicine was favorable and the output of the school was relatively favorable. There was a significant difference between the students’ and professors’ point of views in terms of the context, process, and outcome of the school (P < 0.05). The students ranked the context as favorable, while the professors ranked input, process, and output of the school as favorable. The results of the final evaluation revealed that the condition of this school is favorable. To achieve a highly favorable condition, it is suggested that college and university authorities attempt to strengthen important factors such as revision of curriculum content, and training professors on teaching methods, evaluation, and communication skills.

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.

This descriptive and cross-sectional 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 t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). All P-values of less than 0.05 were considered significant.

Of the 146 respondents, 43.2% were men and 56.8% were women. The mean score of the questionnaire was 76.24 ± 14.42 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.

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.

Educational decline among university students during the first university terms is generally observed as a reason of the big change in lifestyle and not being accustomed to dormitory atmosphere, or it can be as a result of being involved with emotional matters, due to the special age at which they enter university. This research concerns the situation of a medical student ((Mohammad)) who enters Kerman medical university with a perfect educational background and a top rank in entrance exam of university but he encounters a noticeable underachievement in educating as soon as he starts his courses at university. Mohammad who is from a relatively supportive family and has a suitable financial situation in his family, gets involved with an emotional case and its following problems and matters, facing a breakup at this stage, he is suffered with depression and severe educational decline. His family, in order to help him, acts mistakenly and it brings about bigger problems. Therefore, after finishing two university terms with conditional educational situation, he exposes with the warning of being dropped out of university.Noticing the importance of this stage of life among university students, more than the consideration of university teachers, needs the contribution of consulting center of university in an effective way. so that they can identify students with emotional conflicts that leads them toward educational underachievement, and then offering them suitable and helpful consultation aimed to help them pass this serious phase of life and moreover, how to adopt themselves with new situations, surely with having their family support as well.