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Feb 24, 2015Article Details
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A qualitative survey of top-achieving undergraduate medical students’ perspectives of medical education: An Iranian exploration
Abstract
Background. Curriculum reform has received a great deal of attention in the field of medical education in recent years. Many studies are being conducted worldwide to assess the deficiencies of current curricula in order to construct new ones.
Objective. To investigate the perception of a group of students regarding the curriculum currently being taught in medical schools in Iran.
Methods. This qualitative research was conducted in a cohort of 20 top-achieving students who ranked 1 - 10 in the medical university entrance examination and those who succeeded in the International Biology Olympiad examination in the past eight years. These students were in different stages of their studies, ranging from the second term of study to clerkship to internship. Several semi-structured focus group discussions were held and the results were extrapolated from the transcription of these sessions.
Results. The majority of medical students, regardless of the stage of study, were deeply concerned about the current curriculum. They believed that the existing discipline-based approach, teacher-centred curriculum and shortage of hospital-based learning were deficient and suggested that the lectures, handouts, and multiple choice question examinations should be blamed for the development of unskilled doctors.
Conclusion. There is a need for educational reform to contribute towards providing communities with doctors with better skills.
