Teaching Minimum Learning Essentials to Orthopedic Interns in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: The prevalence of musculoskeletal and orthopedic diseases is high in outpatient visits and emergency ward. Meanwhile, evidences show that there is no appropriate and sufficient education in this regard, in the educational programs of medical students and especially orthopedic interns. The aim of this study was to determine the accomplishment of minimum learning essentials by interns in orthopedic ward of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in educational hospitals of Isfahan Medical School in April and June 2006. A 14 item questionnaire including determined minimum learning essentials in 4 fields of surgery room, emergency, ward, and clinic was developed. Forty orthopedic interns, who at least had passed 3 months of their internship course, completed the questionnaire as self-administered. The data was analyzed by SPSS software using frequency distribution. Results: All participants in this study performed the assessment of the "signs of the compartment syndrome" and "sutures" by themselves. Not all of the interns had received the needed education for casting and splint, doing different kinds of bandages, suturing open wounds and doing intra-articular injections. Conclusion: Interns could not achieve minimum learning essentials in orthopedic ward which was in accordance with previous studies. Therefore, it is necessary to implement a complete revision in educational programs of orthopedic interns such as extending the course duration, determining the task descriptions, and providing externship course.