Iranian Journal of Medical Education
Year:2014 | Volume:14 | Issue:9|Papers Count:15

Introduction: Time management, physical conditions of studying, reading ability, note taking, learning motivation, memory, exam preparation, and health conditions as study habits can improve studying and lead to an effective one. The aim of this study was to compare study habits of Library Sciences students of Isfahan University and Isfahan University of medical sciences.Methods: This descriptive comparative study was performed on all Library Sciences students of Isfahan University and Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2011-2012 academic years. The participants (n=180) were selected through convenient sampling. The data were collected via Study Habits Inventory questionnaire (PSSHI). The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics tests (mean and frequency distribution) and inferential statistics (Spearman correlation test, Pearson correlation coefficient, independent t-test, and Chi-square test).Results: The total mean score of the students’ study habits was 60.5±10.5 out of 100. The total mean score of Isfahan University students’ study habits was 59.8±10, and the total mean score for the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences students was 61.3±11.2. There was no significant difference between the students’ study habits mean scores of the two universities (p=0.4). No significant difference was found between the students’ study habits mean scores regarding students’ sex (p=0.7). There was no significant correlation between students’ study habits scores and their GPA (p=0.1, r=0.02).Conclusion: The results showed that the students’ study habits were above the average. So, it seems necessary to plan in order to improve study habits of students.

Introduction: Approaches to studying include explicit and implicit thoughts and behaviors which could be modified by educational interventions. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between course experience and deliberate practice study approach among nursing students in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was performed on all the third, fifth and seventh semester undergraduate nursing students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2013-14 academic years. The participants (n=187) were selected through convenient sampling. Data collection tools were Course Experience questionnaire and Deliberate Practice Study Approach questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (correlation coefficients, ANOVA, and linear regression analysis).Results: Ultimately, 123 questionnaires were analyzed. The mean score of course experience was 122.29±26.02 (out of 180), and the mean score of deliberate practice study approach was 89.74±17.18 (out of 125). There was a significant correlation between course experience and deliberate practice study approach (p=0.001, r=0.95). The multiple regression analysis also showed that among predictive components (course experience and its components), only the independent component could appropriately predict deliberate practice study approach (P=0.001).Conclusion: According to the correlation between course experience and use of deliberate practice study approach, it is suggested that nursing teachers and planners pay special attention to this issue.

Introduction: Heart failure is one of the most common chronic diseases associated with reduced quality of life. Given the positive role of education in improving quality of life, finding a suitable educational method to improve the quality of life of these patients is important. This study aimed to compare two methods of individual and peer education on quality of life in patients with heart failure.Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 64 patients with heart failure in Ekbatan Hospital in 2013. The participants were randomly assigned to individual educational and peer educational groups (each, n=32). After preparing the peer group, 4 peer-to-peer educational sessions were held during a month. Individual education was conducted by the researcher for 15 to 20 minutes. The data collection tool was the translation of Ferrans and Powers’ quality of life questionnaire. The questionnaire was completed by both groups before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests (independent t-test, Mann-Whitney, chi-square test).Results: There was no significant difference between mean scores of quality of life before the intervention in both peer and individual groups (p=0.12). The mean scores of quality of life, immediately after the intervention, were 142.1±10.1 and 147±10.9 (out of 200), in the peer and individual groups respectively showing a significant difference (p=0.039, t=2.10). Results of one month after the intervention were 170.6±7.6 and 132.8±10.8 in the peer and individual groups respectively which also showed a significant difference (p=0.0001, t=16.11).Conclusion: The results showed that both of educational methods lead to the promotion of quality of life. However the impact of peer educational method is stronger in the long term.

Introduction: Today, successful organizations are the ones that constantly operationalize new ideas. The present study aimed to investigate the effective personal characteristics in creating and developing creativity among the students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. To do this, three mediating factors of positive mood, self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation were used to help evaluate the effect of personal characteristics on these students’ creativity.Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study, the data were collected through a combined questionnaire which was completed by a number of 214 students. The participants of the study were selected through a multi-stage method (cluster, stratified and random sampling) from among a number of 481 volunteers. The data were analyzed by Path analysis using LISER 8.50.Results: The results showed that the three factors of personal characteristics (self-directedness, risk taking, and retroactivity) had a significantly indirect effect on students` creativity; that is, they were found to affect creativity through the three mediatory factors of positive mood, intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy. The values obtained from the comparative fit index, goodness of fit index, adjusted goodness of fit index, and root mean squared error of approximation were 1.00, 1.00, 0.97, and 0.038, respectively.Conclusion: Many factors are involved in creating and developing creativity among students of Medical Sciences. The results obtained from Path analysis indicated that self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation had the most significant effect on these students’ creativity.

Introduction: Assessing the conformity rate of educational programs with professional needs can lead to identify the weaknesses of such programs and provide the opportunity for their improvement. This study aimed to investigate the viewpoint of environmental health engineering graduates about conformity rate of the curriculum with their professional needs in Charharmahal and Bakhtiari province.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 100 environmental health engineering graduates in 2013. The data was collected through a researcher-made questionnaire consisted of two sections: demographic (7 questions) and questions related to all specialized courses (42 questions) with a three-point rating scale (low, medium and high). The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results: The results showed that the most suitable courses were inspection and control of food (both theoretical and practical), solid waste, disinfection and water treatment with 72.5%, 67.2%, 56.2%, 55%, and 53.8% conformity rates, respectively and showed that these courses had the most conformity with professional needs. Other courses such as mapping, fluid mechanics, hydraulics, pump and engine, and industrial wastewater with 66.2%, 58.8%, 57.5%, 56.3% and 51.2% respectively, had the least conformity with professional needs.Conclusion: Professional needs of environmental health engineering graduates were not fully covered by their curriculum. It seems necessary to change the educational programs and provide necessary means and facilities in order to achieve the professional objectives and train skilled and productive human resources.

Introduction: Academic performance in each society reflects the educational system’s success in targeting and paying attention to meet individual needs. Hence, this study aimed to determine the relationship between self-efficacy, achievement goals, and achievement motivation with academic achievement.Methods: In this correlational study, 400 students were selected through stratified sampling method in 2013 academic year. Participants completed achievement motivation questionnaire, Elliot and McGregor’s achievement goals questionnaire and Schwarzer and Jerusalem’s general self-efficacy questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression.Results: Results showed that among the investigated variables, self-efficacy and mastery-oriented achievement goals had a significant role in explaining the variance in academic achievement, and could explain totally 41% of the variance in academic achievement. Beta coefficients obtained were (β=0.533 and p=0.0001) and (b=0.223 and p=0.0001) for self-efficacy and mastery-oriented achievement goals respectively.Conclusion: In general, the results of this study showed that the self-efficacy and mastery-oriented achievement goals have a significant relationship in explaining academic achievement and they can be used for students’ further progress.

Introduction: Acceptance and implementation of preventive behaviors through new methods by healthcare personnel are of great importance. The aim of this study was to investigate healthcare personnel’s satisfaction with quality of web-based learning in teaching preventive behaviors of hepatitis B virus infection.Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 120 healthcare employees in Tehran east health center in 2013. Participants were selected through the two-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected via a researcher-made satisfaction assessment questionnaire which included subjects about the content, implementation method and the process of implementing e-learning program. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney, and Pearson correlation coefficient.Results: The results showed that the highest personnel satisfaction score was in teachers’ accountability in practical work (22.24±1.80 out of 25) and the lowest satisfaction scores were related to how to complete the questionnaire electronically (17.28±2.32), and using good examples and illustrations for better understanding of the content (17.43±1.90). Satisfaction with other categories were respectively related to being forced to think about the content, receiving database confirmation after registering personal information, the content (web-based brochures, images or videos), online group discussions in chat rooms, and appropriateness of the content of LMS meetings with professional needs. Factors such as education (p=0.001), job (p=0.001) and employment status (p=0.004) had impacts on personnel’s general satisfaction with participating in the e-learning course.Conclusion: The results showed significant personnel`s satisfaction with the quality of web-based learning in teaching preventive behaviors of hepatitis B virus infection. Given the fairly lower satisfaction rates in some categories of the implementation method and content of the e-learning program, it is necessary to take these into account when designing such programs in order to improve their quality.

Introduction: Identifying students’ preferred teaching styles and matching teaching methods to these preferences by faculty members can improve effectiveness and increase student engagement. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the role of students’ gender and preferred teaching style in predicting student academic engagement in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was performed on students of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Participants were selected through Stratified sampling method. Data were collected through preferred teaching style questionnaire and academic engagement questionnaire. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression.Results: Students’ preferred teaching style can predict their academic engagement (f (497, 2)=41.54, p<0.01).Also, no significant relationship was found between teacher-centered preferred teaching style and academic engagement. Comparing Students` Preferred Teaching Style and Academic Engagement based on gender revealed that female students preferred student-centered teaching style while male students preferred the teacher-centered one. Also, the level of female students` academic engagement was higher than male students.Conclusion: According to the importance of academic engagement, it is suggested that more research should be done in order to identify factors contributing to the enhancement of medical students’ academic engagement.