System-Integrated Education: Useful Experience in Health Management Clerkship

Introduction: Educational courses specially clerkship should be improve an active learning and students' personal and professional development and in addition must be tailored to the needs of society. In each educational system, it is necessary to change educational programs in order to meet social needs and reflect the latest scientific achievements. This study aimed to compare two educational programs for first clerkship course of MSc health services management students. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was undertaken on 10 MSc health services management students who were passing first clerkship course during 2010-2011. They were divided in two groups. We compared the effect of implementing a routine method (which was based on approved curriculum) in the first group versus system-integrated education (which was according to the hospital accreditation standards) in second group. Results were measured in three following areas: students' satisfaction, students' participation in clerkship fields and their linkage, student acquaintance with updated and current concepts in managerial levels of health system. Data was collected using 18-point questionnaire. Data were analyzed using independent T-test. Results: Mean score of all areas in the second group was significantly higher than the first group. Satisfaction mean score was 2.48±0.58 in first group and 3.28±0.39 in second group (p=0.02). Students participation in clerkship fields and their linkage was 2.32±0.54 in first group and 3.85±0.54 in second group (p=0.01). Student acquaintance with updated and current concepts was 2.62±0.74 in first group and 2.95±0.54 in second group (p=0.04). Conclusion: Attention to new managerial concepts of health system can enrich the clerkships and be effective on students' motivation. Educational groups can direct training into need–based approaches with considering health system requirements as well as basic approved curriculum. Therefore, they can provide more effective and appropriate training programs.