Evaluation of Research Activities of Professors and Associate Professors of Universities of Medical Sciences in Iran

SUMMARY In order to oblain the quantity of published papers, written and translated books and supervised thesis by staffs of universities of medical sciences in Iran, informationes gathered from questionnarries tilled by 53%, of proressors and associate professors of the universities. Following scores were given for each activity: paper l, book writ ten 4, book translated 2, thesis supervised 1/2 (maximum 15). The results show that mean scores obtained by professors is twice that reached by associate professors who have over 15 years length of staff ship; however it is not statistically signillcant from that obtained by associate professors who have been a member of staff for 15 years or less. Staff or laculues of health and pharmacy had higher scores than those of medical and dentisary schools. Staff of depart men ts of pharmacology, internal medicine, pediatrics and pathology obtained highest scores btween all depart men ts of medical schools. The mean score reached by all members of universities was around one per year. This study demonstrates that there is a need for increasing research activities among staff of universities of medical sciences in Iran in particular in schools of medicine and dentisary. It also points out to the fact that younger staffs in the past 15 years have shown belier research activities.