The Nessesity and Quality of Management Education in MD Program in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Leadership and management skills are intrinsic to medical care, but low attention has been paid to them in educational curriculum for general practitioners in many countries including Iran. This study, based on Kern’s curriculum planning cycle, has investigated key informants` experiences and point of views about necessity and quality of management education in order to develop management courses to be embeded in general practitioner educational curriculum. Methods: In this qualitative study, using content analysis and purposeful sampling, data were collected by 2 focus group discussions and 28 semi-structured interviews, with key informants in healthcare management and medical education, physician directors and organizational colleagues such as nurses, administrative and insurance experts, till data saturation was achieved in 2011. Sampling was done in Iranian medical sciences universities and Ministry of Health and Medical Sciences. Data was analysed using constant comparison based on Strauss and Corbin’s method. Results: After data analysis, 6 main categories emerged:Necessity of management courses for undergraduate medical students, Required Knowledge, Required Skills, Properties and objectives of the management course and its appropriate education setting, Educational strategies and methods, Evaluation and feedback methods. Conclusion: In addition to showing the necessity of formal inclusion of management courses in general practitioner curriculum, results of this study introduced the required educational settings and methods based on participants` experiences. Future studies are needed to examine the efficiency and detect the administrative problems involved.