The Opinion of Students about the Status of Educational Counseling in Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in First Semester of 2012

Background: The counselors are responsible for academic counseling to students and help them to solve their educational problems. The aim of the present study was to determine the viewpoints of students about the status of academic counseling provided by the faculty advisers in four schools at University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the opinions of 244 students about the counseling status in four schools of Medicine, Nursing and Midwifery, Public Health, and Paramedical were assessed by a self- designed Check List including individual and educational information and 12 items with Likert scale to assess the students’ viewpoints about the status of counselingin the first semester of 2012. Data were analyzed by SPSS (v.16), using mean (SD), one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation test.PResults: “Checking and signing form of credit selection” was the only item from the 12 items of counseling status to which the students in four schools had given a higher score [School of Medicine (2.47±0.60)], [School of Para-medicine (2.45±0.66)], [School of Health (2.10±0.90)], [School of Nursing and Midwifery (2.50±0.86)] and there was no significant difference among the schools (P=0.50). Conclusions: From the viewpoints of students, the status of counseling was not good. Informing the advisors about their duties and adequate supervision of university officials on proper implementation of counseling by the faculty members can help to improve the process of advising.