Internal Evaluation of Physiology Department of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

Previous studies have reported that internal evaluation can play a key role in improving the quality of education. The purpose of this study was an internal evaluation in the physiology department at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences (RUMS). This cross- sectional study was performed (during 2010-2011) in the department of physiology at RUMS. Q uestionnaires were made based on five different factors namely education، structure and responsibilities، research، facilities and teaching spaces. The population consisted of faculty members (4 persons)، graduate students (4 persons) and medical students (38 persons). Results were categorized using Gourman scoring scale. Also، the correlation between basic evaluation grades and physiology course grades during the past 10 years was performed. The results revealed that the department of physiology in the education field was «strong»، in research «very strong»، in facilities «more than satisfactory»، in teaching spaces «non-satisfactory»، and in structure and responsibilities was in the «border line». Also، there was a significant positive association between basic evaluation grades and physiology course grades during the past 10 years (r=0. 39، p<0. 001). This study demonstrated that in some areas (academic faculty and students’ views) the physiology department is considered to be in a good level. But، in the teaching space and structure and responsibilities it is considered in weak level.