Project description:BackgroundIn 1985 medical schools were integrated into the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education was created in Iran. Under this infrastructure education, research and service provision are unified, and it is expected that collaboration between researchers and decision makers become easier in such an integrated context.The question here is how the researchers behavior in the biggest medical university of the country towards collaboration is, i.e. how much do decision makers participate in different stages of research? Which factors affect it?MethodologyThe samples under study were all Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) completed research projects that had gotten grants in 2004 and were over by the time this study was done. Two questionnaires were designed for this study: i) the research checklist which was filled for 301 projects, ii) the researcher's questionnaire, which was sent to principle investigators, 208 of which were collected. Multiple linear regression analysis was used for evaluating the potential factors affecting individuals 'collaboration score'.ResultsOnly 2.2 percent of TUMS' projects initiated in 2004 have had collaboration as a joint PI or co-investigator from non-academic organizations. The principle investigators mean collaboration score was 2.09, where 6 was the total score. So the collaboration score obtained was 35%. The 'type of research' had significant association with the collaboration score which is shown in the linear regression; collaboration was seen more in clinical (p = 0.007) and health system researches (p = 0.001) as compared to basic research.ConclusionThe present study shows that not many individuals collaborated as co-investigators from outside the university. This finding shows that research policy makers need to introduce interventions in this field. And assessment of barriers to collaboration and its facilitating factors should be considered in order to make it actually happen.
Project description:OBJECTIVES:In this cross-sectional study among 220 medical students we aimed to determine the nutritional knowledge and attitude of medical students through clinical training courses (externship and internship) of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. A nutritional knowledge questionnaire included 51 questions was used to determine the correct, perceived and accuracy of knowledge of the participant in different aspects of nutrition sciences. The nutrition attitude questionnaire included 30 questions. Both questionnaires were confirmed in terms of the validity and reliability for assessing nutritional knowledge and attitude in this sample of Iranian medical students. Nutritional knowledge and attitude were calculated as percentage of correct or appropriate responses. RESULTS:The correct knowledge was not significantly different among externs and interns (68.20?±?7.50% and 67.87?±?6.04% respectively, p?=?0.729). Results showed that most of the participants (49.61% of externs and 57.14% of inters) had a poor nutritional knowledge, significantly varied by age (p?=?0.035). The attitude index of the subjects was not significantly different among externs and interns (73.36?±?9.42% and 74.59?±?9.20%, p?=?0.335). Most students (92.7%) had a very appropriate attitude toward nutrition, significantly varied by sex (p?=?0.010). These findings indicate that there are multiple deficiencies in nutrition knowledge of medical students.
Project description:ObjectivesIt has been shown that assessment strongly affects students' performance. A deeper insight needs to be gained into the interplay of assessment and learning. The aim of the current study was to develop a model to explain the educational impact of assessments on students' learning, before, during and after the test.DesignThis study used semistructured interviews, focus group discussions and observation and collection of field notes. A qualitative methodology using the grounded theory data analysis approach was then used to generate an explanation of the process of how assessment impacts students' learning.SettingSchool of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences.ParticipantsParticipants were medical students and teachers with first-hand experience or expertise in assessment as well as their willingness to participate in the study. Fifteen people (eight medical students, seven faculty members) were interviewed. One focus group discussion (with five students) was held.ResultsThe extracted concepts from our study were classified into four main categories. These categories include elements of the assessment programme which affect learning, the mechanism through which they exert their effects, contextual factors and the impact they have on learning. These elements and their interplay occur within an environment with its antecedent characteristics.ConclusionsThis study suggested a model for understanding the elements of the assessment which, within the context, affect learning, the mechanisms through which they impart their effects and the final outcomes obtained.
Project description:PurposeThis study was conducted to assess the developmental factors of empathy among medical students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS).MethodsTo assess the empathy levels, 42 first-year and an equal number of last-year medical students were randomly selected. They answered a questionnaire including the medical student version of the Jefferson Scale, demographic, and some related variables. Statistical analyses were performed using the Chi-square test, T-test, univariate, and multivariate regressions.ResultThe study population consisted of 51 (60.7 %) men and 33 (39.3 %) women with a mean (SD) age of 22.24 (4.10) years. The Jefferson score was 110.19 ± 13.61 and 103.52 ± 20.00 in first- and last-year medical students, respectively. Moreover, medical students who completely passed at least one of the considered empathy courses of the TUMS curriculum had higher empathy scores compared to their counterparts (109.83 ± 15.54 vs. 103.68 ± 19.02). There was no significant association between empathy and gender, self-experience of illness, marital status, family history of chronic disease, and parents' education (all P-values > 0.05). After adjusting for the effects of confounders, the empathy scores were significantly associated with the academic year level (p = 0.04), level of interest in medicine (p = 0.001), and passing the empathy courses (p = 0.04).ConclusionsThe data provided from a top Iranian medical school indicated that the academic year level, level of interest in medicine, and passing the empathy courses were significantly associated with the empathy level. Further studies are recommended.
Project description:BACKGROUND: In the past two decades, scientific publications in Iran have considerably increased their medical science content, and the number of articles published in ISI journals has doubled between 1997 and 2001. The aim of the present study was to determine how frequently knowledge transfer strategies were applied in Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). We were also interested in studying the determining factors leading to the type of strategy selected. METHODOLOGY: All TUMS research projects that had received grants from inside and outside the university in 2004, and were completed by the end of 2006, were included in the study. In total, 301 projects were examined, and data on each of the projects were collected by the research team using a standardized questionnaire. The projects' principle investigators filled out a second questionnaire. In all, 208 questionnaires were collected. RESULTS: Researchers stated being more engaged in the passive strategies of knowledge transfer, especially those publishing in peer-reviewed journals. The mean score for the researchers' performance in passive and active strategies were 22% and 9% of the total score, respectively. Linear regression analysis showed that the passive strategy score decreased with the increase in the number of years working as a professional (p = 0.01) and personal interest as the only reason for choosing the research topic (p = 0.01). Regarding the active strategies of knowledge transfer, health system research studies significantly raised the score (p = 0.02) and 'executive responsibility' significantly lowered it (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: As a study carried out in a Middle Eastern developing country, we see that, like many other universities in the world, many academicians still do not give priority to active strategies of knowledge transfer. Therefore, if 'linking knowledge to action' is necessary, it may also be necessary to introduce considerable changes in academic procedures and encouragement policies (e.g., employment and promotion criteria of academic members).
Project description:Introduction:Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a condition in which one or more parathyroid glands secrete excess amounts of parathyroid hormone (PTH). In short, PHPT is characterized by hypercalcemia/hypercalciuria with concurrent elevated PTH levels. This condition is known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, psychiatric disturbances, and renal complications. As of now, the disease typically runs a long course before being identified and treated. At present, surgery is the only viable treatment option for patients with this disease. Publications from other tertiary centers have identified a large-scale underdiagnosis of PHPT. The aim of this study is to determine if similar trends exist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Moreover, this study was seen as a first step to developing a machine learning strategy to diagnose PHPT in large clinical data sets. Methods:To evaluate for potential underdiagnosis of PHPT at UAMS, all patients from 2006 to 2018 with hypercalcemia and/or hypercalciuria (excluding those with known malignancies or other possible causes of excess serum calcium) were identified in electronic medical records. Then, it was evaluated whether these hypercalcemic/hypercalciuric patients received subsequent measurement of PTH levels necessary to confirm the diagnosis of HPT. Results:At UAMS between 2006 and 2018, 28?831 patients were identified as having hypercalcemia and/or hypercalciuria. Of these patients, only 7984 ever had subsequent PTH levels tested. Therefore, 20?847 (72.3%) of these patients never had PTH labs drawn. Conclusions:These findings may represent a significant patient population in which PHPT remains undiagnosed due to lack of follow-up. PHPT is often a silent disease with an insidious onset. At the point of diagnosis, typically the treatment is surgical removal of the offending parathyroid gland(s) (parathyroidectomy). Identification of underdiagnosis is the first step for subsequent improvement in the diagnosis of PHPT. Detection of this disease in its earlier stages may open the door for medical and lifestyle interventions, thereby decreasing long-term sequelae of the disease, such as osteoporosis, myocardial infarction, or stroke.