Iranian Journal of Medical Education
Year:2004 | Volume:3 | Issue:2 (10)|Papers Count:9

Background. The dynamic and uncertain nature of health care environment requires nurses to be competent decision makers and to respond to the clients needs. Recently, the public and the government have criticized Iranian nurses because of a low quality patient care. However, the nurses' views and experiences concerning the factors affecting their clinical practice and clinical decision making have rarely been investigated. Therefore, this research tried to study the viewpoints, perceptions and experiences of Iranian nurses concerning the factors affecting their clinical decision making. Methods. A qualitative research with Grounded theory methodology was used to study the participants' lived experiences and their viewpoints regarding the factors affecting their clinical practice and clinical decision making. Un-structured interviews and participant observation methods were used to gather the data. Thirty eight participants were interviewed and twelve sessions of observation by takingfield notes were carried out. Constant comparative analysis method was used to analyze the data. Results. Five main categories emerged from the data, indicating the participants' points of view. "Being competent" and "feeling self-confident" were the most important internal factors, and "organizational culture", "nursing education", and "supporting structures" were considered as the most important external factors affecting their clinical decision -making. Conclusion. As participants in this research implied, although being competent and self-confident were important factors in nurses' clinical decision making, organizational culture and structure were the core variables affecting other variables. Nurse managers and nurse educators are responsible for identifying barriers and enhancing factors within the organizational structure that facilitate nurses' clinical decision making.

Introduction. Considering the fundamental role of teaching methods in promoting the quality of education, the emphasis on the necessity of a revise in teaching methods used by continuing education programs, and insufficient observational studies about teaching process, this research was designed to study the teaching methods of continuing medical education (CME) programs in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences based on establishment, continuing, effectiveness, and concluding the communication. Methods. This study was performed as field research. The data gathering method was observation. The validity and reliability of the observation form was confirmed by content validity and test/re-test. The researcher observed 89 CME programs including seminars, conferences, congresses and composed programs. The data was analyzed by SPSS software. Frequency distribution of all factors was calculated. Results. The results concerning the teaching factors revealed that, in establishment of communication more than half of the teaching methods and in continuing the communication more than two third were weak and very weak. Forty percent of teachings in continuing the communication and more than 50% in concluding the communication were good and very good. Also, in most cases, "lecture" was used as the main teaching method in CME programs, but in some programs, question/answer, case presentation and demonstration methods of teaching were also used. Conclusion. The teaching methods of CME programs need a serious revise. In order to improve the quality of continuing education, it is recommended to train faculty members regarding the process of education, teaching, adult learning theory and new models of teaching.

Introduction. Investigating educational situations of interns in different departments is one of the objectives of educational planning in order to prevent a low quality education and provide some solution for that. This study was done to investigate the learning situation of male and female interns in Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in order to compare the amount of their learning, and to provide some suggestions to improve the quality of learning and education. Methods. All inters (30 males and 40 females) in Zahedan Medical University has participated in this descriptive study during 2002. The data collection tool was a questionnaire which included questions regarding common emergencies and diseases of obstetrics and gynecology, and different learning criteria. The data analysis was done by SPss software using mean, standard deviation, frequency of learning criteria and Chi-square. Results. The mean of frequency of learning indicators such as observation, discussion on bedside, managing under the supervision of residents and attending physicians, and personal management, in common emergencies and diseases of obstetrics and gynecology in male interns were lower than female interns. Furthermore, the mean of frequency of managing capabilities in common emergencies for male and female interns were 12% and 70.5%, respectively. These values for common diseases were 14.2% and 59.3%, in male and female interns, respectively. The Chi-square test showed a significant relationship between the learning criteria, and proper managing capabilities. Conclusion. Considering the low frequency of learning indicators such as observation, discussion on bedside, managing under supervision of attending physicians and residents, and personal management in male interns, and a need to their service in deprived areas, it is necessary to improve the learning quality in obstetrics and gynecology department, especially for male interns.

Introduction. The universities attempt to facilitate the possibility of using the internet for faculty members by providing and expanding internet services. Since internet affects the quality of scientific researches at the university, it seems necessary to investigate the possibility and process of expanding the use of internet. This study was performed to investigate the use of internet among faculty members of Semnan University of Medical Sciences. Methods. In this descriptive study, all faculty members of Semnan Medical University were investigated. The data gathering tool was a questionnaire whose validity and reliability had been confirmed and contained 4 demographic questions and 14 questions related to the use of internet. The sampling method was census. Out of 100 questionnaires6, 2 were completed by faculty members. Then, the data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS software. Results. In total, 91.9% of faculty members used internet among which 68.3% used internet at home and 30% at work, and 50.8% used internet less than one hour per day. Faculty members (66.7%) believed that the speed of access to internet was undesirable. Thirty seven point three percent had access to internet 24 hours a day. Sixty four point nine percent of the cases were in agreement with filtrating the un-ethical websites. Eighty point seven percent believed that subscribing academic databases by university was necessary Faculty members used internet for research activities (74.2%), teaching information (72.6%), and electronic mail (59.7%). Fifty percent of them felt that taking part in internet training workshops was necessary. Conclusion. The faculty members of Semnan Medical University do not use internet in a vast level which could be because of time limits or their lack of capability in using internet properly. It is recommended to provide faculty members with educational workshops and classes so they can take advantage from internet facilities and on-line databases.

Introduction. Teaching evaluation is a process to improve the quality of teaching and promote the educational activities. It is carried out by the majority of universities, and the faculty members get the feedback of the evaluation results. The aim of this study was to determine faculty members' viewpoints concerning the effect of evaluation results feedback on improving the quality of their teaching. Methods. In a descriptive study all faculty members (non-clinical) of Ahwaz Medical University (N=130) were investigated using a questionnaire whose content validity was confirmed by experts and its reliability by Alpha Cronbach. The data was analyzed by SPSS software using frequency and Chi-square test. Results. Although 55.1% of faculty members were in agreement with the present teacher evaluation system, 85% of them believed that the feedback of evaluation results was useful in improving the teaching quality. Faculty members (5 5.4%) believed that announcing the evaluation results to the chair of the department was useful in improving the quality of teaching. Also 49.5% of them believed the same thing about announcing the results to the dean of the faculty. The results also showed a significant relationship between academic rank of faculty members and their viewpoints toward feedback of evaluation results in improving the teaching quality. Conclusion. It seems the majority of faculty members consider evaluation results report as a useful feedback for improving the quality of teaching. Hence, a more detailed planning by educational authorities is recommended to motivate faculty members for more cooperation in educational activities which leads to promoting the quality of education.

Introduction. Different factors can make students interested in studying medicine and cause a positive attitude towards their course of study, or in contrast, lead to their boredom, distraction, and disappointment to continue their education. Thus, this study aims to assess information factors in the attitude of medical students towards their own discipline. Methods. A survey study was performed on 227 medical students who were chosen by stratified random sampling. The data was gathered by a self-administered questionnaire covering different factors affecting medical students' attitude towards studying medicine. The data was analyzed by SPSS software using mean, frequency and chi-square tests. Results. Personal interests, serving society, social status of medicine and society's belief on the importance of medicine were the most important factors in choosing medicine as a discipline. Teachers' evaluation method; shortage of research facilities, lack of job security, and educational regulations were among the most important factors causing a negative attitude in medical students towards studying medicine. The feelings to help patients and satisfy others were the most important factors causing a positive attitude in students. Although the interest in medicine had decreased during different years of study, no significant difference was observed. There was a significant relationship between students' attitude and some of their demographic characteristics. Conclusion. The problems resulting from evaluation methods, research facilities and future job security were the most important factors causing a negative attitude towards medicine. Therefore, accurate educational planning, having standard examinations and planning to achieve professional security can improve these attitudes.

Introduction. In the previous studies in the field of medical education, problem based learning and lecture based learning have been compared; but, due to the learning habits of Iranian students and special condition of education, the effects of these two methods have been less investigated in Iranian universities so far. This study attempts to compare the effects of these two methods on students' knowledge in molecular biology course and also to asses students' attitude towards this course in problem based learning group. Methods. This quasi-experimental study was applied on first year medical students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (64 students). Half of the students, after taking part in a 3 day PB L workshop for learning the needed skills, started working in P BL groups under the supervision of the students of higher levels. The control group spent the course with the traditional lecture method. At the end of the course, students' knowledge was assessed by multiple choice questions and short answer essay questions in both groups and also the attitude of experimental group was assessed by a questionnaire. The data was analyzed by SPSS ' software using t-test. Results. The mean score of knowledge was 14.3±1.7 and 12.8±1.8 in the experiment and control group, respectively. There was a significant difference between the knowledge score of the experiment and control groups. The attitude of the experimental group towards the applied educational method was positive. Conclusion. The present study revealed that Problem Based Learning method was successful compared with current learning methods. More studies are recommended to consider replacing the current educational' methods with problem based learning method.

Introduction. Each year, the Medical Sciences Universities admit a number of young individuals for the study in the field of environmental health. This admission has been largely increased since 1996. Thus, the employment of these graduates remains as a difficulty in this field. This study was carried out to determine the occupational situation of different levels of environmental health graduates and to suggest some strategies for long term planning. Methods. In this descriptive survey, 972 graduates of environmental health with associate, BS and MS degree, throughout the country, who were selected by simple random sampling method, filled a self administered questionnaire. The validity and reliability .of the questionnaire was confirmed by content validity and test/re-test. Data analysis was done by SPSS software using frequency distribution and chi test. Results. Based on the results, 6 4.6% of graduates holding associate degree, and 42.7% of graduates holding BS degree were unemployed pending June 2003. The percentage of unemployment rate among M S graduates was much less than other graduates (3.7%). Meanwhile, among associate and BS degree graduate, the highest percentage of unemployment rate was for female graduates. Conclusion. Due to the high percentage of unemployment it associate and BS graduates of environmental health, it is recommended to reduce the students' admission capacity. It is also suggested to enhance the academic knowledge and capabilities of graduates by making some revisions in the curriculum content, and to provide necessary background for their future employment. Since more unemployed graduates are among females, it seems that environmental health field is a kind of manly job. Therefore, more cautious is needed in admitting more female students

Background. The factors affecting learning have been always under special consideration by educational experts. It seems necessary to learn about students' study habits, styles and resources to realize their weaknesses and strengths, and make suggestions regarding educational revisions based on this information. This study was performed to determine medical students, in terns and residents study styles in obstetrics and gynecology department in Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Isfahan. Methods. In a descriptive study, 260 medical students, interns and residents were studied through a simple random sampling. The data gathering tool was a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by content validity and its reliability by test/re-test. The data was analyzed by SPSS software using relative and absolute frequency. Results. 45% of the students and 50% of interns studied books during the semester and used their notes for the exam as a study resource. The residents always used books. Most students, interns and residents studied translated books. Forty two point five percent of them had a special hour for the study and most of them studied during the night. Being married, having children and residents' responsibilities at the hospital were the most important barriers for studying in this group. Conclusion. The study method, duration and resources used by students, interns and residents were inadequate and require some changes. It is also recommended to provide them with education and facilities in this regard.