Iranian Medical Sciences Research Articles

Investigating the Dietary Pattern of Iranian Medical Sciences Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Investigating the Dietary Pattern of Iranian Medical Sciences Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Curve Walking Reveals More Gait Impairments in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment than Straight Walking: A Kinect Camera-Based Study.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia detectable through gait analysis. Curve walking, which demands greater cognitive and motor skills, may be more sensitive in MCI detection than straight walking. However, few studies have compared gait performance in older adults with and without MCI in these conditions. To compare the capability of curve and straight walking tests for the detection of MCI among older adults. We employed a Kinect v.2 camera to record the gait of 55 older adults (30 healthy controls, 25 with MCI) during single-task straight and curve walking tests. We examined 50 gait markers and conducted statistical analyses to compare groups and conditions. The trail was approved with protocol No. IR.SEMUMS.REC.1398.237 by the ethics committee of Semnan University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Older adults with MCI exhibited more compromised gait performance, particularly during curve walking. Curve walking outperformed straight walking in MCI detection, with several gait markers showing significant differences between healthy controls and MCI patients. These markers encompass average velocity, cadence, temporal markers (e.g., gait cycle subphase durations), spatial markers (e.g., foot position changes during gait subphases), and spatiotemporal markers (e.g., step and stride velocities). Our study suggests curve walking as a more informative and challenging test for MCI detection among older adults, facilitating early diagnosis using non-invasive, cost-effective tools like the Kinect v.2 camera, complementing cognitive assessments in early diagnosis, and tracking MCI progression to dementia.

The association between dietary total antioxidant capacity and hearing loss: results from the Tehran employees Cohort Study

BackgroundDespite numerous studies that have explored the association between individual antioxidants or specific combinations and the risk of hearing loss, there is lack of information regarding the relationship between dietary total antioxidant capacity (dTAC) and hearing loss. The conflicting results on this association further highlight the need for more research in this area. This study aims to investigate the association between overall dietary antioxidant intake and the risk of hearing loss among Iranian adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional study recruited 3443 adult participants aged between 19 and 67 years (with an average age of 41.4 years ± 8.8) who were employed at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Participants underwent dietary assessment using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The hearing status of each participant was evaluated by a licensed audiologist in a soundproof room, using diagnostic audiometry that adhered to American National Standards specifications and followed standard audiometric clinical procedures. The dietary total antioxidant capacity (dTAC) was calculated using the Ferric Reducing-Antioxidant Power (FRAP) values.Results43.6% of male participants had hearing loss, while 26.8% among female participants. After accounting for various confounding factors, no significant association was observed between higher levels of dTAC and reduced odds of hearing loss in the overall population. However, among men under the age of 40, higher levels of dTAC were associated with decreased odds of hearing loss, even after adjusting for several covariates (OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.31–1.02, Ptrend = 0.02). This relationship was not evident in men over 40 years of age or among women.ConclusionThe study found an inverse relationship between higher antioxidant intake in the diet and lower odds of hearing loss, specifically among men who were 40 years old or younger. However, this relationship was not observed in the overall population or among women. Additional prospective studies are necessary to validate these results.

Overview, Trends, and Collaboration on Immunization, Vaccination, and Immunomodulation Therapies for Periodontitis: A Scientometric Study.

To identify patterns and trends in the field of immunization, vaccination, and immunomodulation therapies for periodontitis. Metadata were collected from the Scopus database on publications related to these topics from January 1986 to February 2024. Several types of papers were included in this study, a total of 22 publications. Data were extracted from relevant publications and loaded into SciVal for analysis that were used to identify trends and patterns in the data, including cross-country collaboration, thematic evolution, and keyword distribution. Mohsen Amin of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran and S. Aadil Ahamed and Annie Kitty George of Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences in India were found to be notable contributors in this field. India leads in terms of academic paper production, followed by Iran and China. The journals Expert Review of Vaccines and International Immunopharmacology have published significant papers in this field. According to Lotka's Law, most authors have written only one paper, reflecting the distribution of productivity in many academic and scientific fields. Collaborations were observed between Iran and Canada, Korea and New Zealand, and the United States and Belgium. This study provides useful insight into the predominant trends and patterns in the scientific literature in the field of immunization, vaccination, and immunomodulation therapies for periodontitis. The findings of this study may help to understand the dynamics of the production on immunization, vaccination, and immunomodulation therapies could reduce the inflammation and progression of periodontitis, thus improving the patient's oral and overall health. How to cite this article: Mauricio F, Mendoza R, Silva H, et al. Overview, Trends, and Collaboration on Immunization, Vaccination, and Immunomodulation Therapies for Periodontitis: A Scientometric Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2024;25(2):128-133.

Drug use and its correlated factors among university students in Tehran

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of lifetime, last year, and last month use of illicit drugs and associated factors among the first to fourth-year students at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Method Sampling method was multi-stage cluster sampling. Anonymous self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 1050 students. We provided prevalence of lifetime, last 12 months, last month, and daily use for the main classes of drugs. Using the bivariate and multivariate logistic regression model, we evaluated correlated factors of any drug use in the past 12 months. Results Overall, 945 students participated in this study. A total of 6.6% reported any illicit drug use in the past 12 months (11.2% among males vs. 3.1% among females) Cannabis was the most used drug in the past year, reported by 4.9% of the participants, followed by methylphenidate (2.9%). There was an association between illicit drug use in the past 12 months with smoking cigarettes and using alcohol in the past 12 months and drug use among friends or family members. Conclusions The prevalence of drug use among the students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences has increased compared to similar previous studies, which call for preventive measures.

Experiences of students on virtual education in Iranian medical science universities during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.

Due to the changing environment and responding to the needs of the society, change in the traditional education system is inevitable. Also, the occurrence of events such as the COVID-19 pandemic showed that the existence of a virtual education system to prevent the cessation of education is the need of today's society. This study aimed to investigate the students' experiences of virtual education in Iranian universities of medical sciences during the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative study was conducted on 28 students studying in Iranian universities of medical sciences from October 2021 to January 2022 to investigate their experiences of virtual education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were selected by purposive sampling. An interpretive phenomenological approach and semi-structured, face-to-face, in-depth interview were used to collect the data. The data were analyzed by Colizzi's seven-step method. Students' experiences of virtual education during the COVID-19 pandemic were categorized into three themes and seven sub-themes, including the strengths of virtual education (sub-themes: individual and educational dimensions), the weaknesses of virtual education (sub-themes: infrastructural, educational, tests and assignments fields), and suggestions to improve virtual education (sub-themes: infrastructural development and educational planning). According to the study results, the virtual education during the COVID-19 pandemic led to students staying away from the crowded centers. However, some weaknesses were also mentioned by the participants. Therefore, by anticipating requirements and needs, planning and policy making, and seriously reviewing human, financial, and support resources, virtual education can be developed and used as a supplement to face-to-face education in the future.

Evaluating and Ranking e-Service Desks Managed by Treatment Affairs at Medical Sciences Universities: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Developing Country

Introduction: As a key custodian of public health, the Vice-Chancellor for Treatment Affairs in medical sciences universities plays a pivotal role in delivering healthcare services to the citizens through electronic service desk. In this study, we conducted an evaluation and ranking of the e-service desks managed by the Vice-Chancellor of Treatment Affairs at Iranian medical sciences universities.Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in Iran between 2022 and 2023 assessed e-service desks in medical sciences universities. The study included 51 desks categorized by their electronic service methods. Subsequently, e-services were evaluated and scored based on components, which are provided by the national administrative organization for employment. The evaluation components encompassed a) use of an e-service desk to provide services; b) provision of an information package; c) availability of a flowchart outlining the service; d) clarity of the service recipient; and e) electronic collection of user opinions. The total points and the average of each desk were calculated to rank them.Results: The assessed e-service desks were categorized into three groups based on the method of providing electronic services: service provider, service recipient, and not categorized. After evaluating each e-service desk, the highest and lowest points of e-service desks were 708 and 2. The result indicated that only 31 e-service desks achieved an average score of 50% or above.Conclusion: It could be concluded that electronic government (e-government) has been partially implemented in the field of treatment throughout a developing country. However, the absence of a unified model to serve as a guideline for designing e-service desks has resulted in an undesirable diversity in the services offered and their delivery methods. It is recommended that medical sciences universities adopt and adhere to a unified model when designing e-service desks for the provision of healthcare services electronically.

The contribution of the nursing profession to the establishment of social justice: A grounded theory study.

Social inequities in the healthcare system threaten global health. Efforts to establish equity in healthcare is a key goal of healthcare systems worldwide. Social justice is a basic value of the nursing profession that always merits attention. This study aimed to identify and explain the processes of the nursing profession's participation in establishing social justice in healthcare system. This qualitative study was conducted using the grounded theory method. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured, individual interviews with 26 participants, 23 of whom were members of the nursing profession. Sampling started purposefully and, then, continued with theoretical sampling. Field notes were also taken for data collection. Data analysis was performed using Corbin and Strauss' 2015 method. The research was approved by the Ethics Committee of Urmia University of Medical Sciences in Iran. The "Professional Dynamics in the Path of Justice" was the study's core category. This theory is the result of nine main categories: "inefficient professional authority," "social justice, a neglected component in education," "clinical concerns, barriers to nurses' presence in society," "individual input reserves to facilitate social justice," "inadequate maturity of the profession in the path of equity in health," "promoting justice in clinical practice," "a tendency to community-oriented profession," "use of personal approaches for justice promotion," and "emerging justice-expanding nursing." These categories cover the underlying factors, strategies, and outcomes of the nursing profession's participation in establishing social justice process in healthcare. The theory of professional dynamics in the path of justice can be used as a practical guide to describe the role of nurses in establishing social justice. Further studies with a quantitative approach to applying this theory are recommended.

Analyzing and Categorizing Knowledge Resources and Ranking of Knowledge Documentation Mechanisms in Iranian Medical Libraries

Background: Knowledge resources and documentation mechanisms are essential for managers' productivity. Thus, identifying and categorizing knowledge resources and developing documentation mechanisms are crucial organizational tasks. Objectives: This research aimed to analyze, categorize, and rank knowledge resources in Iranian medical science libraries. Methods: This exploratory and correlational study was conducted on 209 managers, heads, and deputies of central and hospital libraries in Iranian medical universities. Sampling was performed using a proportional stratified random sampling method, and a researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect the data. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was utilized for data analysis. Results: Knowledge resources in medical science libraries were categorized into implicit, explicit, and web-based knowledge. Regarding the stages of knowledge documentation, the results indicated that the distribution stage and its related mechanisms received the highest scores. In contrast, the storage stage and its mechanisms received the lowest scores. The path coefficient test showed that the highest path coefficient was related to implicit knowledge (0.68), while the lowest was related to web-based knowledge (0.13). Regression coefficients and Cronbach's alpha were higher than 0.7, and the average extracted variance (AVE) was higher than 0.5, indicating the adequacy of the measurement and structural model evaluation. Conclusions: Based on the results, Iranian medical science libraries lack specific mechanisms for documentation and identifying and categorizing knowledge resources. Therefore, this research provided a suitable foundation for these libraries to employ knowledge documentation mechanisms and discover knowledge resources. These libraries' sources of implicit and explicit knowledge and necessary mechanisms for recording, capturing, and documenting knowledge are not clearly defined. Consequently, organizational knowledge documentation is not conducted formally based on a knowledge management model. Therefore, the present research enables the identification of important knowledge acquisition resources and the methods and mechanisms for extracting and documenting knowledge.

Relationship between sleep quality and marital satisfaction of working women during the premenopausal period

Sleep disorders can adversely affect physical, sexual, and marital health, particularly among middle-aged women. This study aimed to determine the relationship between sleep quality and marital satisfaction of working women during the premenopausal period. In this cross-sectional study, we selected 150 women working at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran was selected using random cluster sampling. A demographic information form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Evaluation and Nurturing Relationship Issues, Communication, and Happiness (ENRICH) marital satisfaction scale were used for data collection. The Data were analyzed using SPSS.22 software at a significance level of P < 0.05. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to predict sleep quality based on marital satisfaction. Our results showed that 79 (52.7%) of the participants had undesirable sleep quality, 87 (58%) had high marital satisfaction, and 32 (21.3%) had very high marital satisfaction. Regression analysis revealed that the total marital satisfaction score could not predict the sleep quality score of the participants. However, as dimensions of marital satisfaction, personality issues negatively (β = 0.327, P < 0.05) and ideological orientation positively (β = 0.336, P < 0.01) predicted the sleep quality score. Based on the prediction of the sleep quality score by personality issues and ideological orientations among the dimensions of marital satisfaction, it seems that life skills training, especially in these two dimensions, may improve the quality of sleep and, as a result, the physical and mental health of working women.

Evaluating clinical communication skills of medical students, assistants, and professors

BackgroundThe skill of communicating with the patient is one of the basic clinical skills and part of the necessary competencies for medical doctors. The present study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and performance (KAP) of medical students, assistants, and professors of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences regarding clinical communication skills with patients.MethodThis cross-sectional study was conducted at the hospitals of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in Iran. The study included a total of 289 participants, consisting of 51 professors, 72 assistants, 90 external staff, and 76 interns who work at these hospitals. The participants were selected through a convenience sampling method. The data-gathering tools used included a questionnaire to collect demographic characteristics, a researcher-made questionnaire to assess knowledge, a communication skills attitude questionnaire, and a communication skills survey questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, and frequency, as well as statistical tests that included one-way ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation test. The significance level for the study was considered to be 0.05.ResultsThe mean scores of knowledge of professors were higher compared to other groups (P = 0.002). All participating groups had a positive attitude toward learning communication skills. There were statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the communication performance of the study groups (P < 0.001). There was a positive relationship between positive attitude and communication performance, and a significant negative relationship was observed between negative attitude and communication performance.ConclusionThe results indicate the relatively favorable attitude and performance of the groups and their low knowledge. It is suggested that the doctor-patient communication skills courses be included as one of the necessary courses in the medical education curriculum.

Predicting the correlation between neurological abnormalities and thyroid dysfunction using artificial neural networks

&lt;p&gt;In this work, a deep learning model was developed to predict future neurological parameters for patients with hypothyroidism, enabling proactive health management. The model features a sequential architecture, comprising a long short-term memory (LSTM) layer, a bidirectional LSTM layer, and several fully connected layers. The study assessed the interplay between serum cortisol, dopamine, and GABA levels in hypothyroid individuals, aiming to illuminate how these hormonal fluctuations influence the condition's symptoms and progression, especially in relation to Parkinson's disease. Conducted at the Tabriz Sadra Institute of Medical Sciences in Iran, the observational study involved 80 hypothyroid patients and 80 age-matched healthy controls. The findings showed a correlation between cortisol levels and TSH and an inverse relationship with T3 and T4 levels among hypothyroid patients. Dopamine levels also correlated with TSH, T3, and T4, highlighting their potential impact on Parkinson's disease. Notably, hypothyroid patients aged 54–71 years old experiencing visual hallucinations had reduced occipital GABA levels correlating with hormone levels. The results indicated significant relationships among cortisol, dopamine, and GABA levels, providing insights into their roles in the pathophysiology of hypothyroidism and its association with neurological disorders. The BiLSTM model achieved the highest accuracy at 92.79% for predicting Parkinson's disease likelihood in adult hypothyroid patients, while the traditional LSTM model reached 84.48%. This research suggests promising avenues for future studies and has important implications for clinical management and treatment strategies.&lt;/p&gt;

Readiness for self-directed learning among basic sciences medical students.

Self-directed learning is a required skill for medical students for remaining lifelong learners. This study focuses on measuring the readiness for self-directed learning of basic sciences medical students. In the second half of 2022, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 288 basic sciences medical students at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in Iran. The students were selected using convenience sampling. The instrument used was Fisher's self-directed learning readiness (SDLR) scale consisting of "self-management", "desire for learning", and "self-control" domains. The data were analyzed by SPSS-25 and also by using descriptive statistics [mean, standard deviation (SD), median, frequency, and percentage] and inferential statistics techniques (Chi-square test and t-test, ANOVA, and MANOVA). Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. The results revealed that the scores of 63.9% students were more than 150. Also, the mean total score of self-directed learning readiness was 152.98 (SD = 16.76), suggesting that the self-directed learning readiness of the students was high level. The highest score was for "self-control" (59.99 ± 6.95), followed by "desire for learning" (46.99 ± 5.64) and "self-management" (46.01 ± 7.07). The total SDLR score and its three sub-scales did not show any notable interdependence with student contextual factors (age, gender, marital and residential status). However, a higher cumulative grade point average (>17) showed a significant higher mean in the "self-management" domain of SDLR among medical students (F = 3.730; P = 0.025). To become life-long learners, self-directed learning is crucial for medical students. The basic sciences medical students participating in this study showed a high level of SDL readiness. Even though the students obtained the highest score for the self-control sub-scale, the desire for learning and self-management skills needs further improvement, which can be achieved through multi-disciplinary approaches.

An Investigation into Health Literacy and Extracurricular Reading Habits: The Case of Students at Abadan University of Medical Sciences in Iran

Background: The process of developing health literacy (HL) begins in childhood and embraces several skills and experiences. Individuals need these skills to properly manage their health and interact with healthcare systems. Although studies considering HL and its related variables are extensive in volume and informative in results, it seems necessary to add more to the field by addressing the issue among students of medicine. Objectives: The present study aimed to check the level of HL and extracurricular reading habits among students of medicine, how they obtain health information, the relationship between their HL and their extracurricular reading habits, and the relationship between extracurricular reading habits and each of the five aspects of HL. Methods: The participants (N = 220) were studying at Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran. The data were collected using the Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA) questionnaire (Montazeri et al., 2015) and a questionnaire developed by the researchers. Results: The findings suggest that extracurricular studying positively correlated with reading health information, reaching health information, and using health information for the respondents of the present study. There was also a significant difference between the extracurricular reading habits and the HL of respondents. However, extracurricular studying and their appraisal of health information did not positively correlate. Furthermore, the Internet was the first source of information for the respondents. Conclusions: The aforementioned results might direct health policymakers’ attention to the HL concerns that medical students need and the ways that they immediately hang on to reach information (i.e., the Internet).

Assessment of the Therapeutic Performance of a Selected Medical University Based On Driving Indices Using the AHP-TOPSIS Approach

Background: The assessment of the performance of medical universities as one of the main organizations providing healthcare services is of utmost significance. In this regard, the indices of treatment domain play a fundamental role in promoting health indices and affect the overall performance of the medical university. The present study evaluated the performance of a selected university of medical sciences in Iran based on treatment driving indices with the AHP-TOPSIS approach.&#x0D; Methods: This research applied a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. In this study, first the driving indices were identified and weighted, and then the performance was analyzed according to the indices. The statistical population of the research consisted of key experts in the validation and weighting phase and of nine years of information pertaining to one of the medical universities of Iran in the final phase. The instrument used in the study was the Index Collection Form. Prioritization of indices was done by AHP method using Expert Choice and Excel. TOPSIS model were used to evaluate performance.&#x0D; Results: In the first step, using a review study, 111 indices were identified, and in the validation stage, 10 indices of treatment domain were selected. Then, based on hierarchical analysis and pairwise comparisons in the weighted indices, the highest weight or priority pertained to the index of the ratio of the total nursing staff to the available beds with a weight of 0.161 and the lowest weight or priority related to the index of natural delivery to all deliveries with a weight of 0.049. According to the TOPSIS method, the selected university showed the highest performance (0.228) in 2014 and the lowest performance (0.006) in 2017.&#x0D; Conclusion: Considering strategic measures in the deputy of treatment simultaneously to improve and manage research indices over time can improve the performance of universities. Thus, it is appropriate to monitor the indices periodically and in the order of priority, so that in addition to maintaining the efficiency, especially in the indices related to human resources, the effectiveness of the measures, including the improvement of the functional indices of the treatment domain, can also be improved.

The Oral Presentation Competency in Nursing Students of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences in Iran

The Oral Presentation Competency in Nursing Students of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences in Iran

Barriers to Implementation and Application of Evidence-Based Medicine from the Viewpoints of Clinical Residents

Background: Nowadays, evidence-based medicine (EBM) is considered a rational framework for decision-making in medicine and its skill training. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the barriers to the execution and application of EBM. Methods: In this cross-sectional survey study, 99 clinical assistants of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in Iran were randomly assigned to the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire, including background information and information related to barriers in 5 areas, and then analyzed by SPSS-22. Results: Overall, 66.7% of the clinical assistants identified spending a long time to justify the patient to implement EBM, and 61.6% identified the lack of trained people for evidence-based care, the absence of monitoring mechanisms, and the follow-up of EBM in education and treatment. In addition, 60.6% identified new evidence-based medical devices and the lack of knowledge of many doctors in this category as the most serious obstacles. The highest and lowest average barriers were obtained concerning the health system managers (76.30) and librarians and medical informants (64.27), respectively. Conclusion: Notwithstanding that the assistants consider EBM effective in treating patients; the lack of training in the skills associated with this category and the lack of attention of health system managers have prevented the utilization of EBM in practice. Accordingly, eliminating the barriers associated with managers can be the most important step in the development of EBM.

Evaluation of the Educational Environment Based on the Perception of Occupational Therapy (OT) Students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran (2013 - 2020)

Background: The evaluation of educational environments is the key to achieving a student-centered and qualified curriculum. Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the educational environment in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), Shiraz, Iran, focused on occupational therapy (OT) students, using the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) questionnaire for incoming students of 8 years (2013 - 2020). Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical, and applied study was carried out on two occasions in 2017 and 2021. The students' perspectives of the 4incomings between 2013 to 2016 (group 1) and another four incomings between 2017 to 2020 (group 2) were evaluated. SPSS software (version 23) was utilized for data analysis. Results: The average total score of the educational environment questionnaire for all 136 students was 102.301 ± 20.607. There was a statistically significant difference in the perception of students in these two groups. The results showed better quality in the total score of the educational environment and all subdomains of this questionnaire in group 2 with a P-value of &lt; 0.05. Conclusions: It seems that OT students’ perception shows a semi-favorable to favorable circumstance regarding the educational environment in SUMS. The incoming OT students from 2017 to 2020 in SUMS have reported more favorable conditions in all aspects of the educational environment than the incoming students from 2013 to 2016. Students' perspectives were more negative after passing their years of studying at the university. Serious reforms in the educational environment of OT at SUMS are needed.

Exploring the viewpoint of faculty members of medical sciences universities about effective factors on their organizational retention: a qualitative study

Background and aimFaculty retention in medical sciences universities is one of the most important values for the survival of the educational system. This study aimed to explore the viewpoint of faculty members of medical sciences universities in Iran about effective factors affecting their organizational retention.MethodsQualitative study using deep interviews collected by maximum variation sampling. A purposively selected sample of 15 faculty members was recruited throughout two Iranian medical sciences universities (Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Kerman University of Medical Sciences) during 2021-22.ResultsQualitative data analysis provided 3 main categories and 10 sub-categories. Three main categories were identified that affected the faculty’s organizational retention included individual factors, institutional factors, and socio-political factors.ConclusionFactors that contribute to the improvement of faculty retention encompass various aspects. These include consideration given to the personal and social requirements of faculty members, support provided by the organization along with effective resource management, a fair and transparent organizational structure, and the maintenance of political stability both within the university and the nation.

Accordance Assessment of Structural and Environmental Elements of Iranian Medical Sciences Universities with the Corresponding Components of Third-millennium Universities: A National Study in a Developing Country

BACKGROUND: Medical sciences universities should be accountable to the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and abilities of graduates; it is needed to investigate the structural and environmental components of universities in order to assess the accordance of these components with the third-millennium universities’ components. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we focus on accordance assessment of structural and environmental elements of Iranian medical sciences universities with the corresponding components of third-millennium universities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023. The population included all faculty members of universities of medical sciences in Iran in the academic year 2020–2021. The sample size was obtained using Morgan table and cluster random sampling. A reliable and valid researcher-made questionnaire was developed to collect the data based on the characteristics of higher education institutions in the third millennium (CVI &gt; 0.79, CVR &gt; 0.62, α =0.88). Statistical analysis was done in both descriptive and inferential methods by SPSS 25. RESULTS: The results showed that the highest mean score of population’s attitude toward structural components was attributed to faculty members (mean = 3.53), and the lowest mean score belonged to the curriculum (mean = 3.45). Besides, the results demonstrated that the highest mean score of attitudes toward environmental components was related to the university’s accountability (mean = 3.52). The findings also showed that there was a significant difference between the scores of faculty members’ attitudes (P &lt; 0.01). CONCLUSION: The results conveyed that the structural and environmental status of universities is not in line with developed universities. Of course, we should not be cynical about the challenges of these universities, but we should detect them and adopt logical and realistic strategies to deal with them. If these challenges are considered opportunities, they will surely motivate and promote the higher education system.