Students' Knowledge of Faculty Evaluation in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran: Expectations, Challenges, Solutions

Background & Objective: Evaluation of faculty members' teaching activities by student is one of the commonly used methods the use of which has increased accordingly over time. Therefore, dynamic and meaningful participation of the students in the process is imperative. The purpose of this study is to understand the knowledge of students of the evaluation process and its challenges, and their solutions. Methods: This qualitative study was performed in 3 schools of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2012. The opinions of student were collected during 3 focus group discussions with the participation of 19 students. Participants were selected based on purposive sampling from among the student advisory committee. All group discussions were recorded, and then, transcribed. Data were analyzed by content analysis. For credibility and authentication of data, the peer monitoring and review method was used. Results: Major themes include the input challenges with 2 subthemes (barriers to participation, and factors affecting evaluation), the process challenges with 2 subthemes (the evaluation time, and students preferred format for evaluation) and the impact challenges with 2 subthemes (publication of results, and reward and punishment evaluation systems). Conclusion: The perceptions and awareness of students about the evaluation process and its application is important in the increasing of participation and their seriousness in answering questions. Thus, in order to reduce bias in the evaluation process, it is recommended that suitable and timely information be given to students and faculty members, courses be performed to familiarize them with the concept and application of evaluation, and the evaluation questionnaires be revised. Keywords Student Faculty evaluation Perceptio

Preparedness of Final-year Students in Fields of Medicine, Nursing, and Midwifery Regarding Interprofessional Learning

Background & Objectives: Interprofessional learning (IPL) can create more collaborations among students of different healthcare disciplines. However, this depends on the tendency of students to learn from each other. Given the fact that the attitude of students is recognized as the major factor for the implementation and success of a program, this study aimed to determine the attitude of final-year students in fields of medicine, nursing, and midwifery of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran toward the implementation of IPL. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional research was conducted on 200 final-year students in the fields of medicine, nursing, and midwifery, who were active in clinical settings and had work experiences in clinical environments. In this research, data were collected using the valid and reliable readiness for inter-professional learning scale (RIPLS), and subjects were selected through convenience sampling. Results: From 200 distributed scales, about 180 questionnaires (response rate=90%) were returned, 80 and 100 of which were filled by students in the fields of medicine, nursing and midwifery, respectively. According to the results, 50.6% of the respondents were female and 49.4% were male. Moreover, mean (standard deviation) total score of the evaluated students was equal to 79.8 (SD=92). Considering the obtaining of a score higher than the desired level by students (57), it could be concluded that the subjects had a positive attitude toward IPL. While the results were indicative of no significant difference between the two medicine and nursing-midwifery groups in terms of preparedness for IPL (P=0.4), there was a significant difference in the subcategory of cooperation and teamwork (P=0.001). In this regard, medical students obtained a lower score, compared to the nursing and midwifery students. Conclusion: According to the results of the study, the subjects had a proper attitude toward IPL, which itself is the most important support for the entrance of this new educational approach in student curriculums

Injury burden in individuals aged 50 years or older in the Eastern Mediterranean region, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Injury poses a major threat to health and longevity in adults aged 50 years or older. The increased life expectancy in the Eastern Mediterranean region warrants a further understanding of the ageing population's inevitable changing health demands and challenges. We aimed to examine injury-related morbidity and mortality among adults aged 50 years or older in 22 Eastern Mediterranean countries. Methods: Drawing on data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, we categorised the population into adults aged 50–69 years and adults aged 70 years and older. We examined estimates for transport injuries, self-harm injuries, and unintentional injuries for both age groups, with sex differences reported, and analysed the percentage changes from 1990 to 2019. We reported injury-related mortality rates and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). The Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and the Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index were used to better understand the association of socioeconomic factors and health-care system performance, respectively, with injuries and health status in older people. Healthy life expectancy (HALE) was compared with injury-related deaths and DALYs and to the SDI and HAQ Index to understand the effect of injuries on healthy ageing. Finally, risk factors for injury deaths between 1990 and 2019 were assessed. 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) are given for all estimates. Findings: Estimated injury mortality rates in the Eastern Mediterranean region exceeded the global rates in 2019, with higher injury mortality rates in males than in females for both age groups. Transport injuries were the leading cause of deaths in adults aged 50–69 years (43·0 [95% UI 31·0–51·8] per 100 000 population) and in adults aged 70 years or older (66·2 [52·5–75·5] per 100 000 population), closely followed by conflict and terrorism for both age groups (10·2 [9·3–11·3] deaths per 100 000 population for 50–69 years and 45·7 [41·5–50·3] deaths per 100 000 population for ≥70 years). The highest annual percentage change in mortality rates due to injury was observed in Afghanistan among people aged 70 years or older (400·4% increase; mortality rate 1109·7 [1017·7–1214·7] per 100 000 population). The leading cause of DALYs was transport injuries for people aged 50–69 years (1798·8 [1394·1–2116·0] per 100 000 population) and unintentional injuries for those aged 70 years or older (2013·2 [1682·2–2408·7] per 100 000 population). The estimates for HALE at 50 years and at 70 years in the Eastern Mediterranean region were lower than global estimates. Eastern Mediterranean countries with the lowest SDIs and HAQ Index values had high prevalence of injury DALYs and ranked the lowest for HALE at 50 years of age and HALE at 70 years. The leading injury mortality risk factors were occupational exposure in people aged 50–69 years and low bone mineral density in those aged 70 years or older. Interpretation: Injuries still pose a real threat to people aged 50 years or older living in the Eastern Mediterranean region, mainly due to transport and violence-related injuries. Dedicated efforts should be implemented to devise injury prevention strategies that are appropriate for older adults and cost-effective injury programmes tailored to the needs and resources of local health-care systems, and to curtail injury-associated risk and promote healthy ageing. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation