The Problems of Educational Period and the Proper Referece for Solving Them: Medical Students’ Viewpoints in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Medical students might face numerous problems during their educational period which makes them to seek proper ways for solving them. The aim of this study was to determine medical students’ viewpoints about the problems during their educational period and proper reference for solving them in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 400 medical students studying in 4 levels of basic sciences, introduction to clinical medicine, clerkship and internship, were selected randomly. The information was gathered through a researcher-made questionnaire including 16 questions about the problems of educational services, as well as psychological, personal, family, financial and welfare problems. The questionnaire also asked about the most appropriate reference for solving students’ problems. The data was analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics and Chi2. Results: The frequency of psychological, financial-welfare, personal-family, and educational services problems were 43.7%, 30.8%, 30.2% and 29%, respectively. In educational services problems, the frequency of educational failure was 47.1% and of motivation decrease was 56.9%. Most students referred to personal experience for solving their problems. They also considered family as the most appropriate source for their financial-welfare and personal-family problems, and personal experience for their educational and psychological problems. Conclusion: The problems are very common in the course of study and need an organized counselling system in which faculty members act as the core and there is constant interaction with families.