Future of Medical Education Journal
Volume:2 Issue: 2, Jun 2012

Dr. Bruce Alberts, Editor-in-Chief of Science magazine, and Professor Emeritus at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), presented a popular and thought-provoking talk to the participants of the Global Young Academy General Assembly in Pretoria, South Africa, on May 21 2012. Professor Alberts has kindly agreed to the publication of some of the ideas he addressed in the Future of Medical Education Journal. We take this opportunity to sincerely thank him for his long and deep support of young scientists. We will publish responses to the following question in the next issue: In your opinion, how could young scientists unleash curiosity and creativity to support excellence in science education? We will publish your maximum 400 word comments in the next issue, provided that we receive them by 1st September 2012.

Facing an unfamiliar environment is always one of the biggest concerns for medical students who are going to have clinical educations in medical fields. Recently early clinical exposure (ECE) for medical students has been proposed as an effective factor in reducing stress and motivating toward the rest of their education as a clinical student. This study aimed at evaluation of ECE effects on motivating Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences students. In a cross sectional survey, medical students in 2nd and 4th semesters were studied in the year 2012. 45 students filled the questionnaire and the results were analyzed by SPSS 19. Amongst 45 students, 25 persons (55.6%) were in 2nd semester while other 20(44.4%) were in the 4th. Most of the students (68.9%) believed that ECE improved their interest on continuation of their field of study. Women believed that ECE helped them in visualizing concepts (p=0.02) and remembering facts (p=0.03) about their medical lessons more than men. 2nd semester students believed more in the helpfulness of ECE in approving their visual concepts (p=0.02). Other important effects of ECE were stress reduction (42%), self steam increase and gaining better attitude about further clinical activities (each by 40%). Most of the students (77.8%) didn’t like to change their field. According to the questionnaire analysis, the results showed that ECE can be an important and efficient factor in improving the motivation and can be a great help in the recall of knowledge in medical students.

By the development of E-learning in the world and also in Iran, Tabriz University of Medical Science has been implementing and expanding E-learning. The investigation of its problems from the academic staffs’ viewpoints, and proposing solutions in order to solve or eliminate the problem effects add to its advantages and provide sustainable basis according to the necessity of changing traditional education toward E-learning. The present research is a descriptive study and the population under investigation involves the academic staff of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences who were selected randomly. The Validity and reliability of the questionnaires were evaluated and SPSS.15 software was used in order to analyze the data. Problems were classified into six approaches and twenty-four cases. The average of the administrative approach scores was 13.18±1.96, electronic approach 11.66±2.32, educational approach 13.39±2.22, economical approach 9.62±2.09, cultural and psychological approaches 20.43±2.53 and finally social and cooperative approaches were calculated to be 10.09±1.97. The teaching board members believe that they do not have enough time or skills for compiling and evaluating E-learning materials and there is no proper culture for this, the attitude should be changed. Finally not only should the professors learn how to compile, use and to take rapid feedback, but it is also essential that they recognize their new roles (as learning facilitators) in realizing and expanding their mode of education, by their imaginative creations. Of course attendance of the professors without support of the universities and proper planning for enhancing the relationship between the professors and staff of information technology are not logical.

In the last decade, researchers have found that, each person’s success in education, either in school or in university, is not only related with his/her intelligence quotient, but today Emotional Intelligence is considered as another forecaster of people prosperities in their lives. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between emotional intelligence and clinical performance of midwifery students in clinical unit. This investigation is a descriptive- correlation study, which is carried out on 19 eighth-semester midwifery students. The evaluation of clinical performance in this study was performed in training unit in the hospital. Bar- on Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire was given to students at the end of the term in order to answer and then deliver it to researcher. There is a significant and direct relationship between total grade of students’ emotional intelligence and clinical performance in training field (p=0.003). Students who have higher emotional intelligence could have better clinical performance and as a result improvement of academic performance. So, if they are trained in a manner to acquire higher level of EI we can hope for showing their maximum potential.

Educational Development Center (EDC) establishment is one of the procedures to improve quality of medical education. As positive knowledge and attitude of lecturers and students are essential factors to gain access to goals of these centers, the aim of this project was to assess knowledge and satisfaction of faculty members and students about EDC activities, Babol-2010. This project is a descriptive-analytical and crosssectional study which was done using questionnaire among 147 faculty members, 75 residents and 80 interns. Samples were collected using randomized, census and simple sampling methods, respectively. Data were analyzed using Chi square, ANOVA and T-tests. According our results, mean of the knowledge score (in a scale of 0-15) among faculty members was higher than residents and interns (9.48 compare with 4.36 and 7.67). ANOVA test results showed that there was a significant difference between them (P<0.05). Also, Pearson correlation calculation revealed that there were positive and significant correlations between years of experience and teaching experience among faculty members and the knowledge score. Our results regarding satisfaction of EDC activities (in a scale of 0-5) demonstrated that faculty members had the highest mean score in comparison with residents and interns (2.86, 2 and 1.83, respectively). Although faculty members had a better knowledge and attitude regarding EDC activities compare with residents and interns, but continuous education, discussion session and rewarding measures are necessary in order to improve condition.

Internal assessment is one of the first steps of educational assessment. According to the importance of quality in educational programs, this study was conducted for internal assessment of Hazrat Zeinab Nursing and Midwifery School of Amol. In this descriptive study, Nursing and Midwifery School of Amol was assessed internally. Participants included faculty members, managers, nursing students, supportive forces, documents and sources related to this school which were selected consecutively and based on purpose. Data collection was done by questionnaire and checklist through observance, question plan and vote accumulation through group discussion. Collected data was analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results of this study showed that 86.44% of learning/ teaching strategies, 77.26% of educational equipment and facilities, and 72.61% of educational courses and course related or non-course related curricula were in a favorable condition and 64.32% of faculty member factors, 64.69% of tasks, purposes and organization rank, 59.76% of students, 41.55% of theses, sabbatical courses and seminars and 39.28% of the learners were in a rather favorable condition. Based on the achieved results this school is totally in rather favorable condition from the point of studied factors therefore officials, people in charge, and principals of university have to improve the strong points by accurate planning, and allocation of the resources to day by day increasing improvement and they have to remove the shortcoming so that they will reach their main purpose which is developing the quality of education.

Illicit drug use is widely different among various societies. To date, no national curricula have been developed for medical students. To develop a community- oriented course for illicit drug use a preliminary need assessment as well as knowledge, attitude and performance of health care staff were performed. All personnel of Sarakhs Health Network were studied in 2011. A constract questionnaire was developed and validated. The mean (SD) age of participants (n=185) was 32 (7.4) years with equal numbrs of males and females. “Family problems” (Likert Scale: 137), “having an addict friend” (135) and “low determination” (133) were the most common expressed reasons for starting drug use. The most effective people in helping addicts reported to be family (151), friends (148), and Narcotics Anonymous Group (NA) (147). “Admission in hospital” (110), “staying in rehabilitation camp” (102) and “Methadone Maintenance Therapy” (101) were stated as the most effective treatment methods. Males selected these items more than females (p=0.032). “Lack of family support” (151), “presence of an addict family member or friend” (149), and “craving” (148) were the effective factors for failure. “Family support” (160), “distance from addicts” (157), and “friendly help network” (156) were the most important factors in staying off the drugs after treatment. Females selected these items more than males (p=0.03). From health care staff perspectives “Methamphetamine” (157), “Heroin” (156) and “Opium” (149) were the most addictive drugs. The most common sources for participants’ information were TV and radio (65.4%). Knowledge-related biological reasons of addiction and abstinence are limited among health workers, and sometimes misleading. Misperceptions and deviated knowledge and their attitude should be focused in curriculum development for health and medical educational courses.

Each year many universities are admitting and graduating students, and in this perpetual cycle, paying attention to the quality of education and the environmental conditionsare of prime importance. Lack of academic success not only leads to waste of time and cost of training centers, but also causes psychological, familial, and community problems for students and their families. In this study, the effect of switching indigenous status scheme on students’ academic career was studied. In this cross-sectional study all the students enrolled in 86-87 and 87-88 input fields were covered by local switching scheme. Data collection was done through the registered file content and student academic records and information from ministries and judicious organization. Academic status of undergraduate students of Nursing, Midwifery and Family Health Technicians, who have been admitted based on indigenous status method was better than comparison group(P<0.05) and in academic achievements of Associate Degree Students of Environmental and Disease Prevention Sciences no significant difference was seen in both the groups (p>0.05). Considering the academic progress of majority of students admitted with this method, and other influences associated with this admission of students, such as social, cultural, and community economic issues can be improved. This kind of admission can be an appropriate method in admitting students.

Teaching of anatomy and physiology are the important basic courses for medical sciences students. If these courses are taught by animations and films, these will be learnt better by students. The objective was to determine the of effect of educational animations in teaching of anatomy and physiology of organ systems on occupational health students’ learning. This study had been performed in planning of educational course, in cross-sectional study with educational websites such as Ministry of Health, Medical Sciences Universities and professors’ opinions. These courses had been taught with animations in physiology and anatomy for B group and had been taught without these for A group. Then data had been analyzed in SPSS 11.5, mean, standard deviation, t-test with P<0.05. Mean grade of anatomy in group B was 19.40±0.64 and in group A was 18.50±0.77, with t= -4.102 and P<0.001 and mean grade of physiology in B group was 18.41±1.30 and in A group was 17.99±1.52, with t=0.931 and P=0.357. This teaching was good for learn of anatomy and some chapters of physiology.

In response to the FMEJ editorial “Integration of Medical Education and Health Services Meets Accountability Challenges and Excellence of Education? “2;1 MARCH 21 2012”, many comments have been submitted.