Survey the Viewpoints of Medical Externs and Interns of Qom Islamic Azad University about the Status of Effective Clinical Education

Background & Aims of the Study : The effective clinical training is from essential and important parts of medical education. Survey theviewpoints of medical students in this area as the pivot of education can be an effective step in planning of clinical education program and effective and efficient evaluation of it. This study was conducted by the aim of determination of medical externs and interns viewpoints about the effective clinical education. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all of the externs and interns of Qom Islamic Azad University (140 students) were participated in 2012. The data were collected by the valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire in the six domains of individual characteristics of students, clinical instructor, clinical environment, educational planning, clinical evaluation and facilities that every domain in according to the Likert attitude-meter scale were determined to too low, low, moderate, high and very high. Results: According to the student’s viewpoints, the most efficient domains of clinical education were clinical instructor, individual characteristics of students, educational planning, clinical evaluation, the clinical setting and facilities, respectively. In according to the opinion of under-studied students, the most efficient factors in medical education in the domains of individual characteristics of students, clinical teacher, clinical setting, educational planning, clinical evaluation and facilities are self-confidence, commitment and responsibility, positive attitude to the education of students, the quality of education, existence of a systematic clinical evaluation system and existence of examination room, respectively. Conclusion: Two domains of clinical instructor and individual characteristics of student were more important than other domains. Therefore, attention to the strengthening of clinical instructor about effective clinical training and also the strengthening of student’s interest and confidence in the area of clinical training can be important.