Journal of Medical Education Development
Year:2013 | Volume:6 | Issue:10|Papers Count:9

Background and Objective: Learning style is one of the factors that affect learning and academic achievement of learners so that understanding it helps individuals adopt a more appropriate way of learning. Teachers' learning styles also affect selected teaching activities and learning environment. This study assesses the learning styles of students and faculty members in pre-clinical stage of medical education at Tehran University of Medical Sciences.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the 2011-12. 221 medical students and 106 faculty staff in preclinical stage at Tehran University of Medical Sciences participated in a census study. Kolb's Learning Style Inventory was used to conduct the research.Results: Much of the students’ learning style was converging (34.4%) and accommodating (30.8%) while the majority of the faculty learning style was respectively converging (41.5%) and absorbent (26.4%). There was a significant difference (p=0.000) between learning styles of the students and the faculty staff.Conclusion: Similarity between learning style of medical students and the faculty increases learning motivation and achievement. We recommend that the faculty, regardless of their learning preferences, use laboratory and problem solving method in their teaching. In addition, the communication skills of medical students should also be strengthened.

Background and Objective: The purpose of this research was analysis and evalution of obstacles to effectiveness of Islamic lessons in Kashan Universities Medical sciences.Materials and Methods: Statistical population of this research included all students in Kashan Universities Medical sciences (N=2457) out of which a sample of 106 students participated in the study. Data was collected using a questionnaire developed by the researchers with a Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.83.Results: Results indicated that although general attitude toward Islamic courses is relatively desirable, there are a series of internal and external factors which decreases efficiency and effectiveness of these lessons.Conclusion: Internal and external factors are the cause of decreased effectiveness of such lessons.

Background and Objective: Teachers are the pillars of any educational system and their personal characteristic is one of the factors that affect their professional ability. The purpose of this study was to determine characteristics of ideal university teachers according to their students.Materials and Methods: The current cross ‐ sectional study was conducted in 2012 in Health collage of University of North Khorasan. The research population included 100 Health students which were selected on the census. A questionnaire was used to collect data. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire was determined and SPSS was used for data analysis.Results: Characteristics of an ideal teacher included mastery (M=4.68), fluency (M=4.6), communication skill (M=4.54), and flexibility (4.27).Conclusion: According to research results, fluency, friendliness, ability to communicate with students, and being knowledgeable must be considered in employing faculty members.

Background and Objective: The main aim in medical education is teaching students to carry out certain duties in future. The Restorative Dentistry is a very important dental practice in our country. The aim of this study was to determine General Dentistry restorative curriculum's adaptation to restorative dentistry service needs in community.Materials and Methods: In this quantitative cross‐sectional study consisting of two phases, data was gathered by two valid and reliable checklists. In first phase, the restorative dental services of 1027 patients in a dental clinic sampled over a period of three months were analyzed by statistical software SPSS.17 and the results were reported. In the second phase, we provided a list of syllabuses and restorative lessons with summarized results of the first phase to Tehran and Shahed University restorative faculty members and asked them to express their views about General Dentistry restorative curriculum's adaptation to the analyzed needs in last phase and results were reported.Results: In first phase, 2362 cases of the restorative service were considered. The results showed that all the syllabuses of restorative curriculum met the restorative needs of the patients. But the amount of time allocated to teaching “theoretical cardiology” and “practical restorative dentistry3” did not meet the students' needs.Conclusion: Restorative lessons syllabus was suitable but time was not sufficient. So the amount of time of teaching should be added to fix the deficiency, so that the quality of education can be promoted. For this purpose using new methods of education via educational package, films and modules may be useful.

Background and objective: The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the performance of nonprofit higher education institutes and universities by Balanced Score Card (BSC) and Multiple Attribute Decision Making (MADM).Materials and Methods: A descriptive method is used in the study. A new model is implemented for ranking the institutes. Research population includes 21 faculty members selected by random sampling. Data was collected by 3 separate questioners, analyzed by SPSS software, and weighted by Team Expert Choice software.Results: The results of this research showed that in non‐profit institutes of higher education the most important criteria include higher income, credibility and number of students accepted for higher education.Conclusion: Our model can be used for ranking higher education institutes in Iran.

Background and Objective: Learning is an important area of research in psychology. Learning is a difficult term to define. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between thinking styles and preference learning methods among students of management and medical information collage in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross‐sectional study. 136 first and second year students of Management and Medical Information studying in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences were selected. Data gathering tools were VARK and Robert J. Strasburg questionnaires. Data was analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics, T‐test, and Pearson correlation formula.Results: Students thinking styles and preference learning methods were directly related. Results showed that there was a significant difference between responses to the questionnaires (p≤0.05). Judging style related to writing – reading method (p≤0.05).Conclusion: As the results between thinking styles and preference learning methods were directly related, teachers and administrators can use these results to increase educational quality. This may be a way to change learning system.

Background and Objective: University teachers are models of learning and ethics for their students. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the opinion of the interns and externs of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences about the professional behavior of the teachers of internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics and gynecology.Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross ‐ sectional study was done on interns and externs of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences in 2009. The data was collected by a single questionnaire. The data was analyzed and presented as percentages at the end.Results: 107 students completed the questionnaires. Of them, 48.1%, 69.46%, 63.75% and 44.87% of externs and interns described the professional behavior of the teachers of internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics and gynecology, respectively, as good and very good. The teachers of internal medicine, general surgery and pediatrics had the highest points in items 1, 10, and 3.Conclusion: The students stated that the professional behavior of their teachers, specially the teachers of general surgery and pediatrics was acceptable. There were striking opinion differences among the different groups. These differences may be due to individual differences in various groups.

Background and objective: Scientific research in every country is the most important factor of growth and prosperity. This study was conducted to find out students' views about research barriers at SSUMS.Materials and Methods: This cross‐ sectional study was conducted using 384 students who were selected by multistage random sampling. Data collection tool was a valid and reliable questionnaire with 56 questions in 4 parts: 22 demographic and background questions, 15 items about personal barriers in research (a=0.73) with a 75‐15 score range and 19 items in organizational barriers studies (a=0.77) with a 95‐19 score range. It was completed in self-report. Data was analyzed by SPSS‐18 using descriptive statistics and analytical tests such as Pearson correlation, ANOVA, independent T‐test and linear regression (p=0.05).Results: Mean of personal barriers was 50.96±8.58 (67.94% of the full score), and that of organizational barriers 65.18±11.20 (68.61% of the full score). Personal perceived barriers were more in women (P=0.022). Personal barriers were higher in participants who did not participate in research workshops (P=0.033). Lack of adequate awareness of the principles and statistical methods and lack of adequate motivation had greater weight.Conclusion: Because of high interest of the students in research activities and due to their ability in this regard, university authorities should pay more attention to this issue.