Journal of

Background and Aim: Identifying criteria of expert teacher and efforts to strengthen and use them in teaching by teachers will enhance the learning process. In this way, one of the important methods is taking the views of students. This study was conducted to determine the characteristics of an expert teacher for effective teaching from the viewpoints of allied medical students at Tehran University of Medical Science.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 200 BSc of allied medical students at were included employing simple random sampling method. Data collection was done employing a self administrated questionnaire. Validity and reliability of questionnaire was calculated. Data analysis was carried out by t-test and SPSS software.

Results: Some criterias like dominance in the scientific subjects (86.8%), power of expression and transmission the training materials (86.2%), respect for students(85.6%), good mood(85%) and work with ethic and sense of responsibility (84.4%) are important criteria for expert teacher. Furthermore, no significant relationship was found between gender and field of study and the above-mentioned four domains (p> 0/05).

Conclusion: Teaching ability was the most important factor for teaching process from he view of the students which could be paid attecntion in teachers' assessment program.

Background and Aim: Accountability is a process by which all service organizations including hospitals are required to legitimize their activities. This research aims to study the seven aspects of accountability in Iran's teaching hospitals.

Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional analytic study performed in the second half of 1390 in five major medical-educational hospitals in 5 points of the country. A research-made questionnaire with seven dimensions (ethical, cultural, financial, operational, legal, informational, and structural) was used. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The total number of subjects was 454, of whom 45.6% were males and the rest were females (n = 247). They were mostly (40.1%) in the age group of 21- to 29-year-olds, and the least figure (6.8%) pertained to those older than 50 years of age. The average mean of structure turned out to be the highest (3.54 ± 0.97) and the informational dimension had the lowest (3.45 ± 0.97). The average accountability score was the highest in Rasht hospital (99.3 ± 0.61) and the lowest in Tehran hospital (3.02 ± 0.67). The correlations between all dimensions were confirmed. Moreover, accountability as evaluated in the studied educational hospitals was above average.

Conclusion: Patients' attitude towards accountability in Iran's teaching hospitals was assessed to be above average. The findings show that an office or a unit for accountability, validation, and continuous audit of its dimensions is essential to advance the high goals of the hospitals.

 Background and Aim: Learning styles are among efficient factors in the teaching-learning process. The aim of the present study was to assess healthcare management students’ learning styles at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS).

 Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on healthcare management students selected randomly through stratified sampling (response rate = 85%). The data collection tool used in this study was Kolb learning style questionnaire (Cronbach Alpha was 0.7-0.9). The data were analyzed through descriptive and analytical tests (χ² and t-test).

 Results: Most postgraduate students preferred the Accommodate Style (55.6% of PhD students and 64% of MCs students). The majority of undergraduate students, however, preferred the Convergent Style (45.67%).

 Conclusion: As to these students’ dominant learning styles, the results of the study emphasized the use of “teaching methods based on Role Playing and Simulation” among postgraduate students and “Problem-Based Learning” among undergraduate students.

Background and Aim: In order to develop teaching competencies and prepare PhD candidates for future roles as faculty members of medical schools, the present study conducted to determine PhD candidates` educational needs and their skills concerning teaching competencies.

Materials and Methods: The present study was a descriptive- analytical and cross-sectional study that was conducted in year 2011. The Study population was PhD candidates who studied in Health School of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. In the present study a “Teaching Competencies Assessment” questionnaire was used that included 2 part s the demographic information and 16- items of educational competencies and needs. The validity and reliability of th e questionnaire was approved by alpha Cronbach’s coefficient (educational need 94% & educational skill 87%). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS.

Results: The result of the present study showed that teaching skills of PhD candidates were at “familiar without implementation capability” level. The lowest candidate s` skill was “Student Assessment” field. The candidates had educational needs in all 16 areas of teaching skill fields (3.85:5). “Lecture Presentation” (4.1:5), “logical structure of Presentation” (4.02:5) and “Motivating methods” (4.01:5) fields were the highest educational needs of PhD candidates.

Conclusion: The results of the present study confirmed the need for systematic planning in order to develop teaching competencies and prepare PhD candidates for teaching role in future.

Background and Aim: Tele pathology is one of the medical subdivisions that has opened a new approach in the telepathology, e specially to organize consultations. In this research, feasibility of Telepathology implementation in teaching hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Science was studied.

Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional and descriptive study. The study population was included 8 hospitals directors and administrator, 20 pathologists, and 8 informatics staffs, in four teaching hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. A researcher constructed questionnaire was used for data collection . The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by expert panel and using by Test – retest method confirmed its reliability. The data was collected and analyzed by SPSS software to prepare descriptive findings.

Results: The R esults showed that 65.6% of hospitals had hardware facilities . Procedures based on legal issues related to information security and privacy was 95.71%, while t here was no guideline for telemedicine and telepathology.

Conclusion: I t could be concluded that in line with considrating the importance and benefits of telepathology, it is necessary to provide software requirements and hardware infrastructure. It should be noted that available properties also must be improved in terms of implementation of telepathology. Also, rules to support patients’ and staff’s rights should be developed for better implementation of such new technologies

Background and Aim: To improve the implementation of clinical governance (CG) in Iran's hospitals, awareness of various aspects of its implementation and assessment is important. The aim of this study was to find out the obstacles and challenges of clinical governance implementation and assessment in Qazvin teaching hospitals. Materials and Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 17 senior managers, clinical staff and clinical governance experts were conducted in six hospitals of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences (QUMS). To analyze the collected data, framework analysis was used. Results: The challenges and obstacles of CG implementation in Qazvin teaching hospitals were explained using three themes of (1) challenges of CG implementation, (2) improvement in seven dimensions of CG, and (3) challenges of CG implementation assessment. Conclusion: The results of this study show that CG implementation needs to address three issues: improving clinical staff awareness about CG, changing organizational culture so as to make it more receptive to CG, and creating higher levels of cooperation among physicians, managers, patients, specialists, and professionals. The supportive role of top management in addressing the three issues and in providing resources and other infrastructures is obviously essent