Iranian Journal of Medical Education
Year:2010 | Volume:9 | Issue:4 (24)|Papers Count:15

Introduction: Cooperative teaching techniques such as jigsaw technique may encompass positive effects in promoting psycho-social climate of learning environments. The aim of this study was to determine nursing students' perception regarding psycho-social environment of the classroom and investigating the effects of two methods of programmed lecture and jigsaw puzzle in promoting students' perception regarding this environment.Methods: In a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design, fifty nursing students of second year in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences participated. After establishing students' primary perception concerning psycho-social environment of classrooms, students were divided into two groups and passed 6 sessions on nursing care in gastrointestinal diseases. Educating these students was carried out employing two different methods of programmed lecture (24 students) and jigsaw (26 students). At the end of course, nursing students' perception regarding psycho-social environment of the classroom was again assessed. Students' perception was assessed using College and University Classroom Environment Inventory (CUCEI). Data was analyzed by SPSS software using Wilcoxon and Mann Whitney tests.Results: Nursing students' perception concerning psycho-social environment of classrooms was in an average level and both methods of programmed lecture and jigsaw puzzle promoted this perception significantly. There was no significant difference between these two active methods concerning their effect on nursing students' perception of psycho-social environment of the class.Conclusion: With regard to the appropriate effect of these two educational techniques, programmed lecture and jigsaw puzzle, nursing teachers are recommended to further use of these two methods in theoretical teaching to their students to promote their students interest into educational topics and learning environments.

Introduction: Ensuring research experience achievement by students is one of the most important goals of thesis conduction process and evaluating students' satisfaction with thesis supervision manner is one of the most imperative challenges of this process. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the degree of students' satisfaction with thesis supervision in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.Methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, 100 medical, dental, and pharmaceutical students that had defended their thesis and were spending graduation time (in year 2006) were selected as study population through stratified random sampling. Data was gathered using Postgraduate Research Experience Questionnaire (PREQ) which its content validity was authenticated by experts and its internal consistency reliability was verified through a preliminary study. Data was analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: The satisfaction degrees for different schools were as follows: schools of medicine (3.8±1.01), school of pharmacy (3.37±0.85), and school of dentistry (3.6±0.85) and there was a significant difference among the three schools regarding satisfaction degree with thesis supervision. Examinees' least satisfaction was with receiving useful instruction on research literature. A significant difference was observed between students' satisfaction with thesis supervision manner and variables of age and thesis score. Conclusion: Considering the attained results, it is necessary to notice thesis supervision as a scientific subject requiring education. It is recommended to apply specific programming for instructional method used for research literature and research subject.

Introduction: With regard to attributes of taking herbal medications considering multiplicity of efficacious chemicals existing in herbal drugs and needed cautions to be exerted, and also considering medicinal safety, the associated points must be precisely observed by consumers. Holding the undeniable role of pharmacists in this field, the current study was performed with the aim of evaluating knowledge, attitude performance of pharmacists of Isfahan concerning herbal drugs consumption.Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, using clustering method, 100 were selected out of total number of 350 community pharmacist occupied in pharmacies of Isfahan (year 2008). A questionnaire made by researcher (which its reliability and validity were separately completed through focus group method) was used for evaluating knowledge and attitude and also scientific scenarios (WWHAM-type question) were used for performance evaluation. After data gathering, the collected facts were analyzed by SPSS software Version 11.5 and using descriptive statistics, chi2, and correlation tests (concerning significance level of p£0.05).Results: There was a significance relation between pharmacists' knowledge on herbal drugs features and number of their graduation years (r=0.38 and p. value=0.0001). Meanwhile, female and male pharmacists' knowledge showed no significant difference. The range of pharmacists' attitude scores was 51 to 107 and its mean was 88.85±13.44 and considering the mean of 75 for the mentioned questionnaire, 91% of pharmacists had positive attitude to herbal drugs. The relationship between pharmacists' attitude and their knowledge on herbal drugs was not significant. A correlation (r=0.09) was observed between pharmacists' performance and knowledge but no significant relationship was detected. No considerable relationship was observed between pharmacists' attitude and their performance as well.Conclusion: Paying attention to the objectives and classic educational curricula of pharmaceutics and making some revisions on them seems to be necessary in presenting herbal drug services. It is highly recommended to pay special attention to this topic in educational programs of continuing education of pharmacists in an applicable manner and change the traditional methods.

Introduction: The dispersal of educational needs assessment resources in one hand and different advantages and disadvantages attributed to each of needs assessment models and techniques on the other hand, make it hard to choose an appropriate, accurate, and reliable plan for needs assessment. This study was performed to develop a practical guideline for selecting a need assessment model and technique considering the scientific resources, global experiences, and local facilities.Methods: This descriptive study was performed in two phases. In the first phase, previous publications about issues affecting needs assessment plan were gathered (in different formats such as print and electronic documents), reviewed and discussed in focus groups. Accordingly, the influential factors were identified and a practical guideline was developed. In the second phase, the prepared guideline was distributed among CME directors of medical universities nationwide to have their viewpoints by a questionnaire. Data was analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics test, T-test, and chi², and at last, using viewpoints of participants, the prepared guideline was revised.Results: Factors affecting the selection of needs assessment model and techniques included: level and aim of need assessment, target group (type, number, and distribution), need category, need definition, and resources (financial, human, time, and …). The practical guideline proposed 8 stepwise parts for need assessment administrators. In guideline evaluation from the CME director viewpoints, 87.5% appraised its overall content as clear and comprehensible, and 87.2% found it practical. Fifty percent of respondents ascribed it enough for implementation, and the others called for instructing the guideline in a face to face session.Conclusion: According to the viewpoint of the majority of respondents, it seems that the guideline could be used in need assessment of CME. To make use of the guideline it is necessary to instruct individuals regarding the content of guideline.

Introduction: The raise of medical sciences graduates is counted to be on of the problems in public, as concern about the discipline and future career is evidently seen in students. This study was performed with the aim of determining environmental health students' attitude toward their discipline and future career carried out in Hamedan University of Medical Sciences in 2008.Methods: All environmental health students of Hamedan University of Medical Sciences studying morning courses of first semester of academic year 2008-2009 in associate, BS, and MS degrees were entered into this descriptive cross sectional study through census (n=115). The data gathering tool was Minnesota University questionnaire including 20 questions based on Likert scale. Data was analyzed by SPSS software using statistical t-test.Results: Mean and standard deviation of students' attitude toward their future career attained to be 56.6 and 11.2 respectively out of 96 questionnaires. Regarding the score of 60 as the mean score of the test, the attained mean score is lower than expected.Conclusion: The mean score for attitude of population under investigation toward their future career was lower than acceptable level which demonstrates lack of desirable attitude toward future career among students. It is while they have an acceptable attitude toward their discipline. Adjusting the number of students accepted, proper distribution of human resources, informing students about university disciplines before they take the entrance examination, and supporting the students financially may prove helpful in improving their attitudes.

Introduction: Despite quite a lot of risks resulting from repetitious radiographies, supervision on dental radiographies' repetition may serve as custody against radius. The aim of this study was to investigate the causes for repeating periapical radiography in radiology department of school of dentistry and the effect of education on repeatition reduction in Yazd University of Medical Sciences.Methods: This descriptive analytical study performed as quasi-experimental (before and after) trial. After patients' referral to department of oral and maxillofacial radiology, radiographies taken by students having faults were gathered in a place and once again the films were given to students. Among the erroneous graphs in the middle of the semester, 300 graphs were randomly selected and investigated. 15 cases for technical errors and 13 cases for developmental faults were recorded separately in tables. In midterm, the causes for faults taken place were discussed and students were fully educated on methods for avoiding these failures attending in radiography room and darkroom. After this educational period the process was repeated and at the end of the semester, 160 defected films were investigated and recorded in previous tables. Data was analyzed using t-test, Z, chi2, Fisher exact test, and McNamara. Results: All observed errors before intervention were 577 types and the failure mean was1.92 in each film. Only 350 films were repeated after intervention that among 160 selected samples, 169 faults were recorded and failure mean turned to be 1.05 in each film and the difference is significant. Performing this educational intervention reduced the rate of erroneous graphs by more than 60 percent. The frequency of failure repetition also showed a significant difference before and after intervention.Conclusion: Error reduction in radiography repetition resulting from education is evident but it seems despite complete education in theoretical courses, the causes for repeating radiography films should be investigated suspiciously and continual education should be given to students in radiography room and darkrooms. It may reduce superfluous and unnecessary radiographies, decrease radiation process and observing rules on safekeeping against it, lessen the time spent and patients' dissatisfaction, and decline the heavy costs of film and developmental processing material in educational centers.

Introduction: Evaluating the gap between educational goals and achievement is among the constant requirements of educational process. Using a well-developed test for academic achievement reflecting all educational goals and full syllabus content is a matter of importance. Regarding the magnitude of specialized theoretical courses of midwifery, researchers in this study attempted to assess the evaluation manner and investigate evaluation tests' questions regarding questions level and their accordance with educational goals.Methods: This is a descriptive study performed in cross-sectional way on evaluation of 18 specialized theoretical courses of midwifery along 2 semesters of 2006-2007 academic year. Data gathering tool was a questionnaire. Variables under investigation in this study included evaluation tools, question type frequency distribution, level of the questions in examination and the level announced in course design (based on bloom classification), difficulty coefficient and question discrimination index, appropriate number of questions and the number of questions in examination for each course's content.Results: Findings demonstrated that the midterm examination was held for 5 courses (27.78%). Assessing the level of questions showed that 71% of questions were in level 1 of Bloom classification. There was a significant difference between level of midterm and final questions and level of educational goals (p=0.0001). The relative frequency of easy questions in final examination was 52.35% and 44.27% of questions had appropriate discrimination coefficient. There was a significant correlation between the number of questions for each educational content in examination and the estimation of appropriate number of questions for each educational content (p=0.00).Conclusion: The findings of this study reveal that most evaluations held for specialized theoretical courses of midwifery were aggregative (congestive) and mostly easy to answer. The proportion of questions with low discrimination and inappropriate was also inordinately expected. Multiple choice questions are the most frequent assessment tool in evaluating specialized theoretical courses of midwifery and it is accompanied by questions level descent compared to its expected level.

Introduction: Medical record documentation is an important legal and professional requirement for all health professionals which ensures holistic patient care presented to him. The aim of this study was to determine factors affecting documentation quality from the viewpoints of managers and physicians in Kashan University of Medical Sciences and present solutions.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed through census in which all managers and physicians employed in universities affiliated to Kashan University of Medical Sciences participated (n=300). The study tool was a questionnaire made by the researcher including questions on effects of factors such as knowledge, attitude, and procedures and standards and follow up and supervision on documentation quality, which was completed by study population after evaluating its reliability and validity. Data, was analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive analytic statistics indices.Results: Among the factors affecting documentation quality, factors of knowledge and attitude respectively enjoyed the highest mean score (94.3) and after that, factors of follow up and supervision (90.1) were placed and factors of processes and standards got the mean score of 88.5 finally. Regarding presented solutions, the recommended strategies for follow up and supervision were more effective (90.6) and resolutions for processes and standards were less effective than others. There was a significant difference among different groups under investigation.Conclusion: Among the factors affecting documentation quality, the factors of knowledge and attitude enjoy the most affectivity on document quality. Therefore, it is recommended to hold training courses for the medical staff for teaching documentation, putting emphasis on reward/punishment factors, evaluating documentation staff based on their documents and computerizing health data entry.

Introduction: Nurses must be aware of the risks regarding endotracheal tube suctioning and should have continuing education in this field. This study was performed to assess the impact of instruction on the knowledge and performance of NICU nursing staff in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2006. Methods: Fifty nurses of neonatal intensive care units participated in this quasi experimental study. At first, their knowledge and performance in neonatal endotracheal tube suctioning was investigated using test and checklist. After specifying the experimental and control group through systematic random allocation, the suctioning instruction was done for experimental group and infection prevention instruction was done for control group. Two days and 2 months after instruction, nurses' knowledge and performance were assessed again. Data analysis was done using Chi- Square, Mann Whitney, and Wilcoxon by SPSS software. Results: The means for knowledge and performance of experimental group respectively two days and two months after instruction was 16.56 and arrived from this score to 28.48 and 27.4 and from 20.6 arrived to 39.14 and 38.34.Conclusion: Instructing the principles of endotracheal tube suctioning improves the level of knowledge and performance in nurses. Since education effect declines gradually, continuing education in this field seems to be necessary.

Introduction: Learning professional laws and regulations are not achieved through traditional methods of education. The aim of this study was to present a new educational method for nurses concerning professional laws and regulations and compare the effect of this method on their knowledge.Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 150 nurses employed in educational hospitals of Sari and Qaem-Shahr were selected randomly and matched in three groups of 50 based on education and position. A combination of two methods of booklet and lecture was used for the first group (experiment group), booklet method only was used for the second (experiment), and no intervention was done in third (control group). Pre-test was performed for the three groups before the study and, after three weeks, the post-test was held. A questionnaire was used for gathering data and the data was analyzed by SPSS software. Results: There was a significant difference between the mean scores, before and after education in the first group (experiment group). The difference in the knowledge score between the 2 experiment groups and the control group (after intervention) was confirmed. Also, the difference between the mean scores of the groups 1 and 2 as well as groups 1 and 3 was confirmed. The difference between the mean scores of the groups, based on age and working experience was statistically significant.Conclusion: Considering the increase in the mean scores of the first experiment group after education, it is recommended to employ the combination method (lecture and booklet) in educating nurses about professional laws and regulations.

Introduction: Influence the professional personality development and related behaviors is one of the most challenging and complicated issues in medical education. Medical students acquire their professional attitudes gradually during their education in clinical wards which profoundly affects their future manner. This study was performed in order to answer this core question: "Which experiences do teachers and interns have from professionalism learning in clinical education?".Methods: In a qualitative study with purposive sampling, 10 teachers and 10 interns of internal medicine and surgery wards were selected and interviewed using semi-structured method. Data was analyzed using thematic content analysis based on Krippendorff's approach including: data gathering, data reduction, deduction, and analysis. Member check and asking colleagues were used for data authentication and rigor. Results: Five themes were revealed as taught matters of professionalism in clinical education by participants in this study which included "information exchange" such as communication with patient and colleague, and providing patient with information, "response to human munificence" such as observing patients' rights, and respecting others, "affection" such as sympathy, compassion, and altruism, "trust" such as honesty and confidentiality, and trust to physician, and "professional accountability" such as responsibility, and fault acceptance.Conclusion: Positive and negative experiences in learning professionalism demonstrates the role of hidden curriculum in clinical education. Negative experiences may cause unprofessional and immoral behaviors and leave a negative educational effect on forming professional performances. It is recommended to familiarize faculty members with professionalism more than before, pay attention to the role of hidden curriculum and faculty members as role models, integrate professionalism criteria in evaluation forms, and consider kind of systematic supervision on students' and faculty members' performance in order to modify the current situation.