Activity Based Costing (ABC) to Calculate the Cost of Training Students in School of Management and Medical Information Sciences

Introduction: Public higher education is competing for limited public funds. Activity-basedcosting (ABC) provides detailed evidence that higher education administrators and policymakerscan be employed to allocate scare resources more effectively and better understandwhat education centers do. Conducting context-specific studies on ABC and budgeting foreducational systems is the crux of the matter for cost containment and making decisions. Thepresent study was undertaken with the aim of determining the costs of training undergraduateand postgraduate students.Methods: This is a descriptive-analytic and applied study. The costs incurred by 7 differentdisciplines and degrees including bachelor (n=2), master (n=4), and PhD (n=1) in the Schoolof Management and Medical Information Sciences of the Shiraz University of MedicalScience in the academic year 2015-16 were examined and costs of training undergraduate andpostgraduate students were totaled by ABC method. The total number of students in includeddisciplines was 269; of them, 71% were studying in the bachelor, 26% in the master, and 3%in PhD programs. Since the primary purpose of our study was to calculate the total sum ofcost per student, no sampling was done. After identifying the activity centers and incurredcosts per activity center, the proportion of the schools’ costs to the university headquarter wastraced. In the school level, the costs of non-faculty staff by the deputies of education, research,support, and cultural-student affairs were estimated. Moreover, other costs, namely energycosts, rentals, consumables, depreciation, and missions were determined and assigned basedon the number of students. Data management and analysis were performed using Excel 2007.Results: The cost of training undergraduate students in the disciplines of health servicesmanagement and health information technology was $24413±2891 and$24286±2926,respectively. The maximum cost of schooling a student in the master degree belonged to thediscipline of medical informatics. The total cost of training a PhD student in the academicyear 2014-2015 was $95303±16106.Conclusion: In an era of resource scarcity, the ability to recognize the gaps between resourcesand academic goals and redirect the resources into programs which maximize the valueadded is crucial for all higher education institutes

Evaluation of socio-economic factors affecting the demand for health

Introduction: Individual health has been proved to be under the influence of various factors such as the use of health care services, diet, smoking and alcohol, physical environment, and health-related behaviors. Therefore, the main determinants of health are factors such as income, education, and access to health services, and systematic changes in these factors lead to socio-economic injustice in health. The present study was carried out through library and internet search. Medline and Google Scholar databases were also utilized. Combining Contents and Results: According to the present study, an increase in health input expenses would inevitably lead to aggravation of the health situation and decrease in income would result in the worst health status of the poor. Moreover, people with higher education use less health inputs; however, they enjoy higher status than those with lower educational levels. Conclusion: Health demand approach provides only a part of the information needed for policy-makers and decision-makers in health system. Theoretical and empirical analyses of the health claim could indicate that policy actions are likely to be more effective in overcoming barriers to health but are not capable of determining which one is likely to be more cost-effective . The demand for information about the health only provides the necessary tools about the benefits of special policy making decisions. So the tool should be combined with other techniques including cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses

Job satisfaction and social capital in university teachers

Introduction: Social capital is multidimensional and it is about the value of social networks and relations between people. Social capital refers to the relationships that forms the quality and quantity of the society’s social interactions. This study was designed to determine the relationship between social capital and faculty member’s job satisfaction in Shiraz Medical School. Method: Social capital is multidimensional and it is about the value of social networks and relations between people. Social capital refers to the relationships that forms the quality and quantity of the society’s social interactions. This study was designed to determine the relationship between social capital and faculty member’s job satisfaction in Shiraz Medical School. Results: 69 (57%) female and 51 (43%) male faculty members participated in this study. Also the findings indicated that mean±SD of social capital was 67.75±6.67 from 75 and that of job satisfaction was 77.1±6.41 from 100. There was a significant relationship between age and job satisfaction (p=0.002), but no relationship was found with marital status(p=0.24).There was a positive relationship between job satisfaction and social capital (p=0.003). Conclusion: Considering the results obtained from this study, it seems that paying attention to social capital and personal characteristics is a useful approach for behavioral interventions and organizational goals in order to upgrade the job satisfaction

Effect of Workshop Training on Self-Directed Learning Skills of Students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Self-directed learning (SDL) is the most important factor in the future success of students in medical schools. In self-directed learning, each student takes responsibility for his/ her own learning activities. The main purpose of this study was first to determine students’ most common learning problems and then familiarize them with the concept of self-directed learning in a teaching workshop. Teaching emphasized SDL skills and processes. Methods: This study used a pre-post interventional design and was conducted in Shiraz Medical School. The first step of the study was a self-administrated questionnaire to investigate the students’ study problems and in the second step all first year medical students (90 students) were involved in a teaching workshop. It is worth mentioning that inclusion criteria of the study included participants’ willingness to participate in the study, and exclusion criteria included unwillingness of participants to continue the study or not completing the questionnaires. Descriptive data analysis was performed by SPSS version 18. Results: The findings showed that the most important study problem was related to the amount of materials and content, according to 68 students (75.8%), and teaching SDL skills could increase their motivation to learn, according to 83 students (92%). Conclusion: Teaching SDL skills to students can motivate their willingness to learn and could be used as a strategic approach to teaching. It seems universities should invest on students’ learning skills

Current state of professional and core competency in pediatric residency program at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences: A local survey

Introduction: Accreditation assesses performance, or capacity to perform, against predetermined standards. It typically combines external quality assurance, through a process of peers review, with elements of self-regulation through internal and selfdirected assessment. This study is an attempt to identify the quality of pediatrics residency educational programs regarding predetermined standards. Methods: This descriptive-analytical evaluation study of applied type was conducted during 2010 and 2011 in the pediatrics department of Shiraz Medical School, Iran. The assessment process occurred in several phases; at first an assessment model for a residency educational development and a series of educational criteria and indices were created based on WFME Standards. Multiple methods including a self-assessment questionnaire and several checklists were used to collect data, whereas systematic site visit, peer review and document reviewing were conducted with survey team. Due to limitation of the statistical society, all faculty members (n=34) and residents (n=41) of the pediatric department were asked to complete the survey. At last, descriptive and deductive statistics data analysis was performed using SPSS version 14. Results: According to the records available in assessing program quality, it seems that the input criteria were desirable for the program based on the residents’ viewpoints (86.6%).There were proper physical facilities for them to meet the residency program goals. The study indicated that the learning environment needed to be revised for the educational needs (Likert scale: 2.96±1.05). The peer evaluation team demonstrated achievement of mission fulfillment in the context of the objectives and indicators by meeting the desired themes. In spite of some weaknesses in the process criteria, the criteria for output indicators were good according to the report (more than desired level of 75-80%). Conclusion: Accreditation is an important step towards strengthening the quality of educational programs. According to this study the current status of the pediatrics department of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences was desirable leading to a satisfactory level in general. However, additional educational development will be needed in order to achieve a widespread change and improvement

Basic sciences curriculum in medical education

Introduction: Traditional methods are generally used for teaching basic science courses at Shiraz Medical School. Such courses are taught during the first and second years of a seven-year medical program. The goal of this study was to analyze teachers and students’ perceptions of basic science teaching in medical education. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the college of medicine of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Results: Regarding the students’ viewpoints, 71.4% reported that curriculum content in basic sciences was enough and had good relevance. 59.2% of students believed the objectives of basic sciences curriculum were clear. Conclusion: The burden of teaching basic sciences ranges from sustaining interest to clinical relevance. It is expected that medical schools will continuously monitor what works and what does not work with their curricula and make the necessary adaptations as required

Team-Based Learning: A New Approach Toward Improving Education

Team-based learning is designed to provide students with both conceptual and procedural knowledge, aiming to enhance active learning and critical thinking. In the present study, team-based learning and lecture methods in teaching the “hospital organization and management” course among hospital management students were compared. This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 25 undergraduate students of management. Teaching sessions were divided into two parts. The first part was taught with interactive lectures and the second part with team-based learning method. The students' knowledge was measured before, immediately and two months (late post-test) after teaching. Finally, the mean scores of the final exam and students' satisfaction towards the methods of teaching were measured. There was an improvement in test scores of the students after the TBL sessions when compared to the test scores after lecture sessions (P<0.001). Also, TBL group had significantly a higher amount of knowledge retention compared to the lecture group (P<0.001), but no significant relationship was found between the mean scores of the final exam in the TBL and lecture groups (P=0.116). Finally, the majority of the respondents were more satisfied with TBL sessions compared to the ones held through lecture (P=0.037). The results indicated that TBL provides a better outcome for students. We found that the TBL approach allowed us to create an active learning environment that contributed to the improvement of the students’ performances

Postgraduate Students’ Learning Styles in Electronic and Presence Training in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Learning is a complex process in which there is an interaction among many factors including the student’s motivation, teacher, learning material, etc. Today, development of virtual environments has necessitated different issues about learning to be considered in the classrooms run through modern approaches. The students should have enough motivation in the learning situation and the material has to be easily at hand. A common theory used nowadays is constructivist learning theory. In this theory, there is a focus on the learner’s experiences in the learning process. However, the common approach to teaching is still teacher centered, practicing traditional courses and practices. This makes students passive. Teaching approaches have shifted from teacher-centered to student-centered learning in which the student’s role as active learner is emphasized. The learning results depend on students and teacher’s activeness and interest in the subject. Student’s activeness in the learning process can be activated with such learning methods as group work, discussions and questionnaires

Evaluation of medical education virtual program: P3 model

Introduction: In e-learning, people get involved in a process and create the content (product) and make it available for virtual learners. The present study was carried out in order to evaluate the first virtual master program in medical education at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences according to P3 Model. Methods: This is an evaluation research study with post single group design used to determine how effective this program was. All students 60 who participated more than one year in this virtual program and 21 experts including teachers and directors participated in this evaluation project. Based on the P3 e-learning model, an evaluation tool with 5-point Likert rating scale was designed and applied to collect the descriptive data. Results: Students reported storyboard and course design as the most desirable element of learning environment (2.30±0.76), but they declared technical support as the less desirable part (1.17±1.23). Conclusion: Presence of such framework in this regard and using it within the format of appropriate tools for evaluation of e-learning in universities and higher education institutes, which present e-learning curricula in the country, may contribute to implementation of the present and future e-learning curricula efficiently and guarantee its implementation in an appropriate way

Spatial Assessment of Accessibility to Public Healthcare Services: A Case Study on Accessibility to Hospitals in Shiraz

Introduction: Unfair distribution of healthcare services is one of the most important issues all over the world. The present study aimed to determine the distribution pattern of available hospital beds and the accessibility pattern to hospitals in Shiraz. Methods: This was an analytical study. At first, spatial distribution pattern of available hospital beds was determined using Moran’s Index (Moran’s I). Then, the accessibility pattern to hospitals was determined using Euclidean distance and network travel distance metrics. All of the analyses were conducted using Arc GIS (10.3) software. Results: The results revealed that available hospital beds had a random and unbalanced distribution pattern in Shiraz based on Moran’s I (Moran’s I=-0.05). Besides, according the achieved standard service areas for the existing hospitals, calculated by using Network analysis tools, 65.47% of Shiraz population was underserved in terms of accessibility. Furthermore, assessment of accessibility patterns resulted from both types of applied distances, indicating that in most cases hospitals were located in the central parts of the city. Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, distribution of hospitals in Shiraz was unfair. Therefore, policymakers are suggested to plan in order to increase the number of Shiraz hospitals. They are also recommended that they should give priority to establishing new hospitals in areas without standard accessibility over areas with standard accessibility based on the results of the present study