Journal of Medical Education Development
Volume:11 Issue: 30, 2018

Individuals develop beliefs and mindsets as a meaning system to create structures for their world, which in turn plays a key role in their motivations and behaviors, particularly in the teaching and learning contexts. Mindset could be examined within the frameworks of growth and fixed attitude. Dweck [1] has defined mindset as the perspective of individuals toward their innate attributes (e.g., abilities and personality traits) as fixed, uncontrollable characteristics (fixed mindset) that cannot change through effort or malleable, controllable qualities that could be promoted through effort and investment (growth mindset). In this regard, Dweck [2] argues that the fixed mindset creates an urgency to prove oneself, and the failures faced by the individual may be perceived as a direct measure of their competence and self-worth.

An important part of studies on psychology of behavior and learning, as well as social and health sciences requires the use of researcher-made questionnaires. To achieve valid results and provide the possibility of publishing the results of a research, researchers seek suitable methods to assess the validity of research tools. This is mainly due to the fact that failure to provide such an important feature in a research tool might lead to the waste of effort and resources allocated to the study. One of the conventional types of validity of measurement tools is construct validity, which is often assessed as one of the most valid statistical techniques using factor analysis method. Generally, factor analysis applies statistical processes to simplify the related measurements and discover a pattern from a group of variables. This method is mainly used to find the simplest way to interpret the observed data. In several fields, including behavioral sciences and psychology, social sciences, medical sciences and nursing, economics, and geography, factor analysis is used as one of the important achievements of technology advancement in computers. In the present research, stages and methods of exploratory factor analysis are discussed and described step-by-step by using SPSS.

Teacher evaluation by students is one of the best assessment methods, since students are directly educated by professors. Several factors are involved in the evaluation of teacher performance. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between Social and Academic Integration of Students with Student Evaluation of Teacher Performance in Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran in 2016. This cross-sectional research was conducted on 307 BSc students in Gonabad University of Medical Sciences selected via stratified random sampling. Data were collected using demographic characteristics questionnaire and reliable and valid scales of institutional coherence and quality of teachers' performance. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 20 using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and linear regression at the significance level of below 0.05. Among the dimensions of social integration, the highest score was related to peer group interaction (29.08±4.59). Regarding the dimensions of academic integration, the highest score was related to academic and thinking progress (26.34±4.32). According to the Pearson’s correlation coefficient, a direct and significant relationship was found between the total score of social and academic integration with the total score of student evaluation of teacher performance (r=0.53 and r=0.11, P<0.001 and P<0.04, respectively). Moreover, results of linear regression test demonstrated that there was 0.11 and 0.53 increase in the teacher evaluation score per each increase in the scores of social and academic integrations, respectively. According to the results of the study, there might be an association between academic and social interactions and experiences of students with classmates and other academic staff with student evaluation of teacher performance, reflecting their satisfaction with the performance quality of faculty members in Gonabad University of Medical Sciences

Interprofessional learning (IPL) can create more collaborations among students of different healthcare disciplines. However, this depends on the tendency of students to learn from each other. Given the fact that the attitude of students is recognized as the major factor for the implementation and success of a program, this study aimed to determine the attitude of final-year students in fields of medicine, nursing, and midwifery of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran toward the implementation of IPL. This descriptive and cross-sectional research was conducted on 200 final-year students in the fields of medicine, nursing, and midwifery, who were active in clinical settings and had work experiences in clinical environments. In this research, data were collected using the valid and reliable readiness for inter-professional learning scale (RIPLS), and subjects were selected through convenience sampling. From 200 distributed scales, about 180 questionnaires (response rate=90%) were returned, 80 and 100 of which were filled by students in the fields of medicine, nursing and midwifery, respectively. According to the results, 50.6% of the respondents were female and 49.4% were male. Moreover, mean (standard deviation) total score of the evaluated students was equal to 79.8 (SD=92). Considering the obtaining of a score higher than the desired level by students (57), it could be concluded that the subjects had a positive attitude toward IPL. While the results were indicative of no significant difference between the two medicine and nursing-midwifery groups in terms of preparedness for IPL (P=0.4), there was a significant difference in the subcategory of cooperation and teamwork (P=0.001). In this regard, medical students obtained a lower score, compared to the nursing and midwifery students. According to the results of the study, the subjects had a proper attitude toward IPL, which itself is the most important support for the entrance of this new educational approach in student curriculums

  Considering the role of metacognitive beliefs associated with procrastination in the persistence and intensification of procrastination, application of a valid and reliable tool, either in the area of evaluation or assessment of the outcomes of therapeutic interventions, is of paramount importance. This study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the metacognitive beliefs about procrastination questionnaire (MBPQ) in students of Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran. In total, 210 students were selected through convenience sampling. In order to assess the validity of MBPQ, three construct validity methods (exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses), convergent validity, and cross-correlation assessment of subscales were used. In addition, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was applied to estimate the reliability of MBPQ. The two-factor structure (positive and negative metacognitive beliefs) with 14 items explained 49% of the total test variances. This factor structure was selected as the best model obtained from exploratory factor analysis and was approved as the final model of MBPQ using the confirmatory factor analysis. According to the results, there was a direct and significant relationship between positive and negative metacognitive beliefs and total and academic procrastination, respectively. In addition, the components of MBPQ had an acceptable reliability. According to the results of the study, MBPQ had favorable psychometric properties and proper fit in the two-factor structure. This questionnaire can be applied as a proper research tool in clinical assessment, formulation of reference problems, and provision of a step toward the development of conceptualization of metacognition of procrastination

Quality of the provided educational services to medical students is one of the main concerns of the authorities of the medical education system. Currently, there are theoretical and methodological ambiguities regarding the definition, conceptualization, and determining the factors involved in the concept of the teacher identity in physicians. Most of these challenges are due to the lack of proper, time-consuming measurement tools. Developing valid and reliable measurement tools is an important step toward effective medical education. The present study aimed to develop and validate the teacher identity for medical faculty members scale (short version). This descriptive, correlational study was conducted on 156 professors of medical universities, who were selected via multistage cluster sampling. Heuristic, validation, and confirmatory analyses were performed using the method of partial least squares, including the evaluation of measurement models (Cronbach’s alpha, factor loading coefficients, composite reliability, convergent and divergent validity), fitness of the structural model (significance of path coefficients, coefficients of determination, model prediction, goodness of fit index). The final tool had 20 items in four dimensions of educational domain, teaching and learning, perceptions toward medical education, and professional development. The results of heuristic and confirmatory analyses indicated the appropriateness and acceptability of the underlying structure of the indices and factors. According to the results, the teacher identity for medical faculty members scale (short version) has proper construct validity and reliability to be used for the assessment and identification of the strengths and weaknesses of teacher identity in physicians and develop medical education

Given the fact that students’ perception of curriculum components and their academic enthusiasm are among the most important factors affecting academic achievement of students in the higher education system, this research aimed to evaluate the relationship between students' perceptions of curriculum components and their academic enthusiasm. This descriptive correlational research was conducted on all students studying in schools of nursing, midwifery, and health of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran in 2016. The sample size was estimated at 230 using the table by Krejcie & Morgan. In addition, subjects were selected via random sampling, and data were collected applying the questionnaire of students’ perception of curriculum components and academic enthusiasm scale. Moreover, data analysis was performed in SPSS version 20 using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, multiple regression, and independent t-test. In this research, a positive and significant association was found between all curriculum components and academic enthusiasm. In other words, academic enthusiasm could be predicted based on curriculum components (f=29.81, P=0.0001). However, no significant relationship was observed between students of different fields in terms of academic enthusiasm. On the other hand, there was a significant difference between male and female students in this regard (t=2.33, P=0.021). According to the results of the study, a positive and significant relationship was observed between all curriculum components and academic enthusiasm of the subjects. Therefore, it is recommended that applying interesting educational methods, training various evaluation techniques, and designing efficient and up-to-date contents be considered in this respect

Medical records are among the most valuable tools for the evaluation of service quality of care organizations. Generally, a course disease shows the latest daily status of patients. This research aimed to determine the effect of blended learning (standard SOAP method) on the accurate progress note documentation in medical records of patients by assistants of general surgery. This quasi-experimental research was performed with the cooperation of 10 first to fourth-year assistants of general surgery in Shahid Modarres Hospital affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran in 2016. Samples included medical records of patients selected by randomized sampling. In total, 412 medical records were evaluated before the intervention in terms of progress note documentation using a questionnaire designed based on medical documentation standard (progress note based on the SOAP) of the ministry of health, treatment, and medical education. In addition, 420 medical records were assessed after the intervention, which included education of standard notes on accurate progress note documentation based on SOAP through peer-to-peer problem solving and using emails (blended learning). Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 18.5 using paired t-test and McNemar test for quantitative and qualitative binary nominal variables, respectively. In this research, a significant difference was observed before and after education based on the standard SOAP in terms of progress note documentation of patients upon admission, during treatment and at discharge (P=0.005). Moreover, a significant difference was found between the condition of information documentation related to the physician (patient’s name, the sequence of progress note report, and time) before and after the education (P=0.005). According to the results of the present study, documentation of the general status, care and diagnostic measures, treatment plan and observing the standard principles in the progress note sheet of patients by the assistants of general surgery were improved after blended learning