Reform in medical and health sciences educational system:a Delphi study of faculty members' views at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Despite the strengths in the Iranian medical and health sciences educational system, areas in need of improvement have been noted.The purpose of this study was to understand the views of faculty members at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences about current and future needs for medical and health sciences education, with the goal of improving the quality of the educational system.The data were collected using a Delphi consensus method.Analysis of the findings identified the following key themes among the factors likely to contribute to medical and health sciences education and training:adding and/or increasing student numbers in higher degrees in preference to associate degrees; providing more interactive, student-centred teaching methods; improving the educational content with more practical and research-based courses tailored to society's needs; and an emphasis on outcome-based student evaluation techniques.These changes aim to respond to health trends in society and enhance the close relationship between medical education and the needs of the Iranian society

على الرغم من مواطن القوة في النظام التعليمي الإيراني للعلوم الصحية والطبية، فإن هناك مجالات يتعين تحسينها.وتهدف هذه الدراسة إلى فهم وجهات نظر أعضاء هيئة التدريس في جامعة شيراز للعلوم الطبية حول الاحتياجات الحالية والمستقبلية في التعليم الصحي والطبي، بهدف تحسين جودة النظام التعليمي. وقد جمع الباحثون البيانات بطريقة الإجماع دلفي. وحددت النتائج أن المواضيع الرئيسية التالية هي من بين العوامل التي يغلب أن تساهم في التعليم والتدريب في العلوم الصحية والطبية: إضافة أو زيادة أعداد الطلاب في الدرجات العالية لصالح الدرجات الإضافية، تقديم المزيد من طرق التعليم التفاعلية والمتمحورة حول الطلاب، تحسين المضمون التعليمي بإضافة دورات عملية تستند على البحوث ومصممة لتلبية احتياجات المجتمع، والتأكيد على تقنيات تقييم التلاميذ استنادا إلى النتائج. وتهدف هذه التغيرات للاستجابة للاتجاه الصحي السائد في المجتمع ولتعزيز العلاقة الصميمية بين التعليم الطبي وبين احتياجات المجتمع الإيراني

Malgré les aspects positifs du système iranien d'enseignement de la médecine et des sciences de la santé, certains domaines nécessitant une amélioration ont été identifiés.La présente étude visait à comprendre les points de vue des membres du corps enseignant de l'Université des Sciences médicales de Chiraz sur les besoins présents et à venir de l'enseignement de la médecine et des sciences de la santé, avec pour objectif d'améliorer la qualité du système d'enseignement.Les données ont été recueillies à l'aide de la méthode de consensus Delphi.L'analyse des résultats a permis de dégager les thèmes clés suivants parmi les facteurs susceptibles de contribuer à l'enseignement de la médecine et des sciences de la santé ainsi qu'à la formation en la matière:augmenter le nombre d'étudiants dans les années d'études supérieures plutôt dans que celles des diplômes d'études générales; proposer davantage de méthodes d'enseignement interactives et axées sur l'étudiant; améliorer le contenu de l'enseignement par des cours davantage centres sur la pratique et la recherche et adaptés aux besoins de la société; et privilégier les techniques d'évaluation de l'étudiant reposant sur les résultats.Ces changements visent à répondre aux tendances en matière de santé dans la société et à renforcer le lien étroit entre l'enseignement de la médecine et les besoins de la société iranienne

Research priorities in medical education in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Ways are needed to effect quality improvement in medical education research in the Eastern Mediterranean Region [EMR]. This study aimed to determine the principle themes and to draw up a list of priorities in medical education research in EMR. Using the nominal group technique with a group of 30 experts, a list of major themes in medical education research was prepared. In a 2-round Delphi survey the list was sent to another 47 experts in the Region with a questionnaire that included open questions about change and reform in medical education. In the final list of 20, the 5 highest priorities identified were: training physicians to be effective teachers; community-driven models for curriculum development; clinical teaching models; education about professionalism and ethics; and education for evidence-based medicine. Themes determined by this survey can help researchers in EMR to focus on priority areas in research

[ systematic review of work-related problems among occupational therapists and physical therapists]

Work related injury [WRI] can cause problems such as change or loss in job, fatigue and burnout. Injury prevalence has increased from 10.2% to 13.5% in the U.S. therapists since 2004 to 2006. At least 3,700 physiotherapists and 900 occupational therapists membership in Iranian Medical Council and developments of occupational therapy and physical therapy domains are involved in our country and the growing trend of student admissions in these fields and also limited researches in work-related problems of therapists, there would be a challenge in research studies. The overall goal of this systematic review was to survey the prevalence of work-related problems, predisposing factors and causes of these problems among therapists and finally predict problems of Iranian occupational therapy and physiotherapy population. By performing the five stages of an evidence based systematic review with regard to the selection criteria obtained from related articles, looking for articles were done through using internet databases, reference books and Citation review. At first, 50 articles were obtained. Finally, this study reviewed 25 articles in the last two decades in different parts of Iran and the world [1990-2010]. It was clarified that muscular injuries were of the most common types of damages caused by these works. Injuries were seen in most particularly in public, orthopedic and acute settings. Low back pain was remarkably reported. Age under30 years, inexperience and heavy work were some of the risk factors. Improper handling was determined as the main cause of injuries in therapists. Besides musculoskeletal injuries, common psychosocial problems were depression, anger and job frustration. Finally, considering culture and job characteristics of the Iranian therapists, the data and results were compared and discussed to predict different aspects of WRI in Iranian therapists.

Role of dipstick in detection of haeme pigment due to rhabdomyolysis in victims of Bam earthquake

Avoiding life-threatening complications of rhabdomyolysis depends on early diagnosis and prompt management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of urinary dipstick test in the detection of haeme pigment in patients who were at risk of acute renal failure [ARF] due to rhabdomyolysis after suffering injury in the Bam earthquake. Serum creatine phosphokinase [CPK] level was used as the gold standard for prediction of ARF. ARF developed in 8 [10%] of 79 patients studied. We found no significant differences in the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of dipstick urine and serum CPK tests for identifying patients who were at risk of ARF. However, dipstick urine test is an easy test that can be performed quickly at an earthquake site

Thyroid autoantibodies in women with and without thyroid disorders in an iodine-replete area

To compare the prevalence of positive autoantibodies in patients with thyroid disorders and healthy subjects in an iodine-replete area of the Islamic Republic of Iran, we studied 930 women in a clinic-based study: 698 patients [286 hypothyroid, 140 hyperthyroid, 272 with simple goitre] and 232 healthy women. Serum thyroxine [T4], triiodothyronine [T3], thyroid stimulating hormone, and antithyroid antibodies were measured. Positive autoantibodies were detected in 75.5% of patients with hypothyroidism, 73.6% of those with hyperthyroidism, 48.9% of those with simple goitre and 35.8% of the control group [P < 0.001]. Autoimmunity may have a role in the genesis of common thyroid disorders

Qualitative study on nutritional knowledge of primary-school children and mothers in Tehran

The nutritional education demands of primary-school children in Tehran were evaluated in a qualitative study, through 20 focus group discussions, 16 for children and 4 for mothers, among 128 children aged 6-11 years and 32 mothers in 8 primary schools in Tehran. Children knew about the advantages of different food groups, including helping digestion, growth and increasing intelligence. They obtained their knowledge mainly from their parents and television, as well as books, teachers and friends. Mothers thought the sources that had most effect on children's nutritional knowledge were television advertisements, parents and classmates. Most of the children claimed that they preferred to learn about nutrition from their parents and television, e.g. children's programmes and advertisements

Parental consanguinity among parents of neonates with congenital hypothyroidism in Isfahan

We determined the prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism and the rate of consanguinity among parents of hypothyroid neonates among 93 381 neonates born in 17 hospitals in Isfahan from May 2002 to April 2005. Serum thyroxine [T4] and thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] levels were measured on the 3rd-7th day of birth and neonates with abnormal levels were recalled and the levels reassessed. Those with TSH </= 10 mIU/L and T4 < 6.5 micro g/dL on the second assay were considered hypothyroid. In all, 1038 neonates were recalled and 274 were diagnosed as hypothyroid. There was a significant association between parental consanguinity and congenital hypothyroidism [P = 0.006]; congenital hypothyroidism was commoner in neonates with 1st cousin parental consanguinity than 2nd cousin parental consanguinity [P = 0.008]