Iranian Medical Students Research Articles

Investigating the Impact of Cell-Phone on Fatigue: A Case Study of Iranian Medical Students

Despite all the positive effects of cell phones on communication, the improper use of these devices may lead to fatigue and many other problems, including academic, physical, and social problems. Among different age groups, students are the most affected due to the importance of cell phones in their educational and communications needs. In this study, we seek to investigate the relationship between improper use of cell phones and fatigue in Iranian medical students. In the present descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study, 400 students were randomly selected from the Iran University of Medical Sciences by cluster sampling. Data collection tools included demographic information questionnaires, harmful cell phone use (COS), and fatigue (Smets). Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22 based on the frequency tests, mean, standard deviation, and ANOVA with a significance level of 0.05. The mean age of students was 24.1±5.65. The total population of the study was 56% female and 44%, male. The results revealed that the prevalence of fatigue among students was moderate (56.60%). The status of harmful cell phone use was reported to be moderate (90%). There was a significant relationship between mobile phone use and total fatigue (p=0.029), decreased motivation (p=0.025), and mental fatigue (p = 0.001). Results showed that excessive use of cell phones had an adverse impact on total fatigue, mental fatigue, and motivation. Therefore, it is recommended to design effective interventions to prevent harmful use of cell-phone, student fatigue, and other consequences, including academic failure and reduction of mental health.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Personal Meaning Profile in Iran

The Personal Meaning Profile (PMP) is a widely used instrument to measure people's perceptions of personal meaning in their lives. Thisstudy aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the PMP. First, the researchers developed the Persian version of this scale using the forward-backward procedure. Then, they examined the face and content validities by both qualitative and quantitative approaches. To evaluate the construct validity, researchers administered the instrument to a sample of 482 medical sciences students and performed exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The reliability was assessed using loading factors, Cronbach's alpha coefficients, and composite reliability. An average scale-level of content validity index of the PMP with 57 items was 0.80. The findings revealed that the Persian version of the PMP comprises five factors explaining 50.57% of the total variance. The confirmatory factor analysis indices showed a moderate fit for the data. Reliability of the Iranian version of PMP was demonstrated with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.893. Consistency was established with test-retest reliability with an interval of 2weeks (Intracluster Correlation Coefficient = 0.983, p < 0.001). Moreover, the criterion validity demonstrated a significant inverse relationship between the PMP and General Health Questionnaire (r = - 0.34, p < 0.001). This study indicated that the Persian version of the PMP is an acceptable, reliable, and valid measurement to evaluate the meaning in life in Iranian medical sciences students.

Knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported practices (KAP) towards hand hygiene in medical students versus the public

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic and its associated morbidity, mortality, and economic disruption has reignited interest in simple protective and preventive measures.AimsThe aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of hand hygiene in a sample of medical students in Ireland and members of the public to evaluate these within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also explored any differences between the two groups.MethodsA 35-question survey was formulated and circulated to potential participants comprising Irish medical students and members of the public. The data was analysed using Microsoft Excel with P-values being calculated using chi-squared goodness-of-fit analysis.ResultsThere were 356 responses to the survey, categorised into medical students and general public populations. Incomplete surveys were removed leaving 303 responses. There was no statistical difference between the groups for attitudes and self-reported practices towards hand hygiene. Statistical differences were found between the two groups in terms of knowledge.ConclusionsThe study showed that medical students and the public had a good knowledge base and positive attitude in regards to hand hygiene. Both groups displayed consensus that the practices are essential, especially within the current pandemic context. However, larger studies, involving multiple universities and a larger portion of the public, may be useful to ascertain whether there is a true difference in the KAP between healthcare students and the general public.

Prevalence of weight status and associated factors of underweight among the medical students in Iran

Background: Increasing weight abnormalities among university students is a challenging problem around the world. Published studies most researched overweight/obesity and its contributing variables in this population. However, underweight can threat health and wellbeing of the students during academic period. The Objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of weight status and to explore associated factors of underweight among the students from Yasuj University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, a random sample including 455 students were recruited from Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Iran, during 2018-2019. Academic, socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics of the students were gathered through a structured questionnaire. Body mass index was determined and classified according to the World Health Organization reference. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data in numbers and percentages. The relationships of students’ characteristics with their weight status were checked using Chi-square test. Factors associated with underweight occurrence in students were detected by analyzing multiple binary logistic regression model and adjusted odds ratio. Result: Of the total participated students 87.5% were 19-24 years old and 66.2% were female. The mean ± standard deviation of students’ weight and BMI were 61.42±11.51and 22.14±3.36, respectively. The prevalence of underweight, normal weight and overweight/obesity among students were 15%, 66.15 and 18.9%, respectively. Among the considered variables, age (OR: 0.78 95% CI: 0.63,0.97), gender (OR:2.o8 95% CI: 1.o8, 3.99), number of educational term (OR:1.25, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.47) and father’s occupation (Or:2.13 95% CI:1.14, 3.99) were significantly associated with the underweight occurrence in students. Conclusion. The prevalence of underweight and overweight/obesity among studied university students were high. The younger students, female students, students at higher number of educational term and students with fathers not an employee were at higher risk of being underweight. Suitable programs to promote healthy diets and practices among university students must be provided.

Investigating the barriers to clinical education among medical students in Iran: A narrative review study.

Various factors can affect the clinical education of medical students. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the barriers to clinical educational related to medical students in Iranian universities of medical sciences. To conduct this study, all studies related to the subject under discussion, during the years 2000-2022, by systematically searching internationally available databases including Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar, were reviewed. Finally, 14 fully relevant studies were selected to investigate the main objective. The results of the present study showed that some factors, such as clinical environment, educational programs, facilities and equipment, number of students, how teaching professors, educators and hospital staff interacted with students, motivation and interest of students, hope for the future, job security and other similar parameters could affect the quality of clinical education. Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that the quality of clinical education in different universities of medical sciences is different and depended on many factors. Furthermore, it is necessary for the educational administrators of medical universities in Iran to identify the needs and shortcomings related to the clinical education of universities and then remove those barriers.

The role of narrative medicine program in promoting professional ethics: perceptions of Iranian medical students

Narrative medicine (NM) is an educational tool that can be used to promote the professional competencies of medical students. This study aimed to investigate Iranian medical students’ perceptions of the first NM program offered in 2019.The study was conducted on 69 medical interns who participated in the weekly NM program that was part of the professional ethics course for two months. We used a questionnaire to determine medical interns' perceptions and personal attitudes toward NM. Three experts confirmed the validity of the questionnaire in Persian, and its reliability was verified by internal consistency (α = 0.879). The independent t-test was used to compare the differences in the total scores of students' perceptions. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 23 software (P < 0.05). The response rate to the questionnaire was 95.65%. The results showed overall students' perceptions of the program were found to be positive. Furthermore, the scores showed a significant difference in terms of gender (P = 0.014), but none in terms of marital status (P = 0.936). According to the results, NM was effective in improving students’ reflections and their empathy with patients. Therefore, it is recommended to include NM in professional ethics education.

Testing adaptation and psychometric properties of survey instrument for students' perspectives on e-professionalism and social media in Iranian students: Corona crisis and medical education.

BACKGROUND:The use of social networks in the field of education has also accelerated and has become a powerful source of learning for transformation and empowerment in various fields. This study aimed to test the adaptation and psychometric properties of an instrument for students' prospective on e-professionalism in the use of social media in Iranian medical science students.MATERIALS AND METHODS:In this questionnaire, with the aim of psychometric properties of the perception toward social media in Iranian students, this survey instrument developed by (Ness et al.) in five fields in 2nd-year pharmacology students in Purdue University The fields include accountability, hiring decisions, profile editing, professionalism, and privacy settings. In this study, first, a cultural adaptation was done by an expert panel. Then, psychometric properties of an instrument by content validity and construct validity using explanatory factor analysis were performed. Reliability was assessed by test–retest and internal consistency of items. The reliability of the survey instrument with three factors was 0.82 using the test–retest, and the internal consistency was good (r = 0.94).RESULTS:The result of psychometric properties using the principal component method extracted three factors (accountability, hiring decision, and professionalism) to assessment of students' attitude to professionalism using social media in Iranian students.CONCLUSION:The adapted and psychometric properties of the instrument developed by Ness et al., 2013, with three dimensions and ten items proved to be a valid, reliable instrument for use for assessing perspectives on e-professionalism and social media in Iranian medical students. This questioner may be suitable for Iranian researches in medical education.

Health anxiety of Iranian medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Health anxiety of Iranian medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Medical students' psychological and behavioral responses to the COVID-19 pandemic: A descriptive phenomenological study.

On February 19, 2020, the Iranian government officially confirmed the first deaths due to COVID-19 and within a week, all universities were closed. The purpose of this study is to explore Iranian medical students' psychological and behavioral responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. This descriptive phenomenological study was conducted on 52 medical students. Data were collected using a purposive sampling method by means of synchronous virtual focus group discussions which were conducted using the WhatsApp messaging application. Data were analyzed using the MAXQDA software version 2020. Data analysis resulted in the emergence of three categories consisting of psychological responses to the pandemic and the behavioral and psychological responses to the quarantine. Most of the extracted themes are related to students’ psychological reactions to the pandemic. During the quarantine period, students suffered from uncertainty, experienced boredom, worried about delay in their graduation, and were concerned about losing employment opportunities. Medical students must be prepared for crisis situations like the present pandemic. We recommend that online courses and training programs be developed with the aim of offsetting the negative effects of university closure on students’ education and skill training.

Effect of Offline Newly-Developed Task Cycle (NDTC) on Iranian Medical Students’ Reading Comprehension Performance

This study was conducted to explore the impact of integrating an evaluation cycle (Newly-developed Task Cycle) into Willis's task-based model on the improvement of Iranian medical students’ reading comprehension. In this quasi-treatment study, 60 medical students were selected through convenience sampling from Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran, and assigned to two groups of Willis and NDTC. The control group (Willis group) received the procedures of the task-based cycle proposed by Willis, and the treatment group (NTDC group) received the procedures of NDTC designed by the researchers of this study. Each group participated in 12 sessions with a focus on reading comprehension, which met twice a week for 90 minutes. Prior to starting the treatment, a pre-test was administered. Also, one week after the last session, a post-test was administered. The post-test scores were compared with pre-test scores in each group and finally with each other. The results obtained from the statistical analysis of the collected data revealed that while both frameworks were effective in improving the learners’ reading skills, NDTC had a greater impact in this respect. The findings of the study have beneficial implications for teachers, researchers, and educational managers, should NDTC be infiltrated into teaching methods.

The Effect of Flipped Learning on English Writing Performance and Self-Efficacy of Iranian Medical Students

The current study investigates the effect of flipped instruction on writing self-efficacy and writing performance of Medical students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Fifty students participated in this experimental study. They were assigned as the treatment group consisted of 25 students and the control group 25 students. The control group (the non-flipped classroom) was taught using traditional writing instruction, whereas the experimental group (the flipped classroom) was taught in a flipped learning mode. The questionnaire used in this study was adapted from Donald O. Prickel’s research (1994) and was scored based on the Likert scale for the writing self-efficacy. The data were gathered in a Pretest-Treatment-Posttest design. The results revealed that flipped instruction had a more positive effect on improvement of both writing self-efficacy and writing performance of the learners compared to those instructed traditionally. The results of this study widen the perspective of EFL teachers in that they can recognize novel methods of instruction. Keywords: Traditional Instruction, Flipped Instruction, Writing Performance, Self-efficacy, Writing self-efficacy

Self-rated health and self-confidence among Iranian medical students, a survey in Tehran University of medical sciences

ABSTRACT Self-confidence is an attribute of the individual that enables one to have a positive or realistic view of themselves or the situations in which they exist. Investigations have shown that people with high self-confidence may have better general health. Based on our knowledge, no study has been conducted on the relationship between self-confidence and students’ health status so far in Iran. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between Self-rated health and self-confidence among students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. This cross-sectional study was performed on 600 students of different faculties at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. To measure self-confidence, the validated personal evaluation inventory (PEI) questionnaire and demographic characteristics questionnaire, suitable for Iranian medical students was used. To measure students’ Self-rated health as a dependent variable of the study, a standard question was used. Statistical analysis was performed using multivariable logistic regression. Of the 600 students who participated in the study, 322 (53.67%) were female and 278 (46.33%) were male. The overall mean score of students’ self-confidence was 66.71% (standard deviation = 10.42). In terms of Self-rated health, most participants reported good status (69.54% in females and 65.51% in males). The results showed the probability of having good health was associated with the rising of mean scores of self-confidence. It is recommended to educational policymakers to consider general and mental health and personal relationships as factors related to self-confidence and perform the necessary interventions needed to increase the level of self-confidence among students.

Mental health and wellbeing among Iranian medical students: a descriptive study.

The psychological wellbeing and stresses on medical students are currently under a global spotlight. Under a wider initiative supported by the British Medical Association (BMA), international surveys have been conducted to understand and begin to tackle these issues. This study aimed at describing the mental wellbeing and levels of burnout of Iranian medical students. A total of 179 medical students from 19 different cities participated voluntarily in the survey by answering an online questionnaire between April and August 2020. We detected a trend toward higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders (namely depressive disorders) and substance misuse when compared to previous national studies. About 6% of students screened positive for alcohol problems with the CAGE questionnaire. About 77% of medical students screened positive for mental health problems with the GHQ12 questionnaire. Very high rates of burnout were also reported. These findings emphasize the urgent need to define methods to screen at risk medical students and implement local and national initiatives to curtain their potential detrimental effects.

Medical students and stimulants; they have enough knowledge but they still use non prescribed stimulants

ABSTRACT Introduction Medical university students are more likely to use non-prescribed stimulants, due to the claim that some of these drugs may improve learning abilities and concentration. Side effects of non-prescribed stimulants in healthy young adults are not so far widely studied. The present cross-sectional survey demonstrates the prevalence of stimulants misuse and the characteristics of non-prescribed users among Iranian medical students. Materials and Methods Healthy medical students were asked to fill a validated researcher-administered questionnaire about their previous stimulant use. Both online and printed versions of the questionnaire were available for the students. Results Among 301 medical students, 157 students (52.2%) reported misusing stimulant agents. The most common stimulant was methylphenidate, with a prevalence of 46.5%. Compared to non-users, stimulant users were more likely to smoke (p < .05). Among the non-prescribed users, 31.8% reported being tempted to reuse stimulants, 89.8% were aware of the complications of stimulants before use, and 54.1% reported recommending the stimulants to others. Conclusion The findings of the present emphasize the necessity of focusing on psychoeducational programs for medical students, alongside increasing awareness about possible side effects of stimulants.

Association between dispositional empathy and self-other distinction in Irish and Belgian medical students: a cross-sectional analysis

ObjectivePhysicians’ cognitive empathy is associated with improved diagnosis and better patient outcomes. The relationship between self-reported and performance-based measures of cognitive empathic processes is unclear.DesignCross-sectional analysis of the association between...

Association Between Hopelessness And Suicidal Ideation In Iranian Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

There are limited studies regarding suicidal ideation among Iranian medical students. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of suicidal ideation and its association with hopelessness among Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) medical students. We designed a cross-sectional study conducted in TUMS in 2018. We developed a questionnaire consisting of three parts; the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), four questions regarding suicidal ideation, and questions regarding demographic characteristics. We used the available sampling technique and sent the questionnaire to 517 medical students of TUMS. In total, 224 medical students completed and sent back the questionnaire (response rate=43.32%). Participants' mean age was 22.68 (SD=3.38) years, and 140 participants (62.5%) were female. One hundred seven students (47.76%) had mild, 58 (25.89%) had moderate, and 13 (5.8%) had severe hopelessness. Males, senior students, and dissatisfied students with their academic performance experienced more severe hopelessness (P<0.05). Thirty-six participants (16.07%) had suicidal ideation. After adjusting for age, gender, marital status, and student's satisfaction with their academic performance, BHS total score was independently associated with suicidal ideation (OR=1.29, 95% CI=1.14-1.46, P<0.0001). The prevalence of suicidal ideation and hopelessness is relatively high among Iranian medical students. Students with more severe hopelessness are at higher risk of suicidal ideation, and evaluating hopelessness among medical students can be used to screen medical students at risk of suicidal ideation.

Factors affecting academic failure in medical students in Iran

Background: Students are considered part of the capital of each country. Several factors can affect their educational status and, as a result, contribute to their academic failure. The current study seeks to investigate the relationship between students’ academic failure and the affecting factors with the Iranian Educational Ranking of Universities. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The required sample size was calculated using Cochran’s formula. A researcher-made questionnaire with 5 parts was used to collect data. Kruskal Wallis and Spearman’s analysis of variance was used for analysis. The significance level was considered as 0.05. Results: A total of 1215 people participated; 13.7% of students had had an academic failure and 2.0% of them were on academic probation. There was a correlation between university RAD rank and academic failure (r = -0.098 and P = 0.0001) as well as student satisfaction (r = 0.264 – P = 0.0001). There was a significant difference between an academic drop and academic grade in three ranks of university (Pv= 0.0001), and, interestingly, having moved from Rank 1 to 3, having academic grade increases, and having academic failure decreases. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, the higher ranked the college campus is on the RAD scale, the higher the academic failure rate. For annual assessment of universities, it is proposed that assessment of academic failure and grades be used as a benchmark.

Value-rich exposures in medical education: phenomenology of practice according to the lived experiences of medical students in Iran.

Values ​​predispose people to make the right and especially ethical decisions, and are important for good performance in medical sciences. Students’ lived experiences and the value-rich exposures during their education are some effective means of achieving professional values that help them build their own value frameworks. In this phenomenology of practice study, we aimed to explore and describe the lived experiences of a sample of medical students in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences regarding their value-rich exposures. In-depth interviews, students’ written stories, recorded video interviews related to past trips and photographs were used to collect data. The data was analyzed based on Van Manen’s thematic analysis method. Five themes emerged from the data: “in the shadow of a supportive mentor”, “a well-orchestrated, value-rich program”, “human interactions in a value system”, “acquiring values in a real-life environment”, “and seeking values in oneself”. Our study identified different dimensions of value-rich exposure based on the lived experiences of medical students and pointed out some issues that medical education planners can consider to improve the quality of value-based education for medical students.

The association between cigarette smoking attitudes and social capital among Iranian health and medical students: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundSmoking remains a leading public health challenge globally. As a psychosocial determinant of health, social capital can influence health attitudes and behaviors, and thus it may have the capacity to reduce smoking rates. The aim of this research was to examine the association between social capital and attitudes towards smoking among university students.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted among 538 health and medical students, recruited using the proportionate sampling method. Participants’ social capital and attitudes toward smoking were assessed using the social capital questionnaire (SCQ) and the scale of cigarette smoking attitude (CSA). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and the multiple regression analysis.ResultsAbout one in four health and medical students reported smoking, either currently or in the past, and 30% had either positive or indifferent attitudes towards smoking. The mean scores of the SCQ and the CSA were 105.1 ± 19.7 and 48.6 ± 11.2, respectively. There was a statistically significant negative association between the SCQ and the CSA scores (r = − 0.24; p < 0.001). In the regression analysis, the SCQ scores were also negatively and statistically significantly associated with the CSA scores, after controlling potential confounders (B: -0.09; 95% CI: − 0.13 to − 0.004).ConclusionsAs future healthcare providers, who are expected to take the primary role in reducing smoking rates in the community, health and medical students should be supported to develop appropriate attitudes towards smoking. Promoting positive social capital among university students has the capacity to improve their attitudes towards smoking. Possessing negative attitudes towards smoking should hopefully reduce smoking behaviors among future health professionals and improve their participation in anti-smoking campaigns.

Factors affecting academic failure in medical students in Iran

Background: Students are considered part of the capital of each country. Several factors can affect their educational status and, as a result, contribute to their academic failure. The current study seeks to investigate the relationship between students’ academic failure and the affecting factors with the Iranian Educational Ranking of Universities. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The required sample size was calculated using Cochran’s formula. A researcher-made questionnaire with 5 parts was used to collect data. Kruskal Wallis and Spearman’s analysis of variance was used for analysis. The significance level was considered as 0.05. Results: A total of 1215 people participated; 13.7% of students had had an academic failure and 2.0% of them were on academic probation. There was a correlation between university RAD rank and academic failure (r = -0.098 and P = 0.0001) as well as student satisfaction (r = 0.264 – P = 0.0001). There was a significant difference between an academic drop and academic grade in three ranks of university (Pv= 0.0001), and, interestingly, having moved from Rank 1 to 3, having academic grade increases, and having academic failure decreases. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, the higher ranked the college campus is on the RAD scale, the higher the academic failure rate. For annual assessment of universities, it is proposed that assessment of academic failure and grades be used as a benchmark.