Evaluation of Medical Clerkship Training in Pediatric Department of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Based on Students' Logbooks

Introduction: Using logbooks in different sections of medical education has been helpful in investigating the educational status of medical students. In order to identify the educational status of clerkship students in pediatric ward, this study was designed to determine the condition of education as well as practical works of clerkship students based on their logbooks in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, medical students’ logbooks of a three month pediatric clerkship filled by 45 students in 2005, were studied and statistically analyzed. Clerkship students in pediatric ward received a handbook containing a list of diseases and procedures, and reported them based on their exposure as observation in morning classes or having a role in the treatment of the disease. The Mean of the frequency of observations in each part was analyzed by SPSS software. Results: In pediatric ambulatory clinic, neonates emergency, pediatric emergency and pediatric general ward, 60.73% of the diseases mentioned in the list, were observed by students. In subspecialty wards, 18.16% of diseases were observed by students. Almost 59% of all procedures had been performed by each student. Conclusion: logbooks are suitable means for evaluation of educational status and are able to determine the acquired experiences in educational courses and reveal the deficiencies in learning process. In this study there was a major difference between students’ familiarity with educational subheadings in specialty and subspecialty wards which is necessary to consider. Applying this method in evaluation of medical students’ educational status is recommended.