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Gandomkar R, Changiz T, Omid A, Alizadeh M, Khazaei M, Heidarzadah A, Rouzrokh P, Amini M, Honarpisheh H, Laripour R, Abedi F, Sabet B, Mirzazadeh A. Developing and validating a national set of standards for undergraduate medical education using the WFME framework: the experience of an accreditation system in Iran. BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 2023; 23:379. [PMID: 37226139 PMCID: PMC10210375 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-023-04343-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Defining standards is the first step toward quality assurance and improvement of educational programs. This study aimed at developing and validating a set of national standards for the Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) program through an accreditation system in Iran using the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) framework. METHODS The first draft of standards was prepared through consultative workshops with the participation of different UME program stakeholders. Subsequently, standards were sent to medical schools and UME directors were asked to complete a web-based survey. The content validity index at the item level (I-CVI) was computed using criteria including clarity, relevance, optimization and evaluability for each standard. Afterward, a full-day consultative workshop was held and a wide range of UME stakeholders across the country (n = 150) discussed the survey results and made corrections to standards. RESULTS Analysis of survey results showed that relevance criteria had the best CVI as only 15 (13%) standards demonstrated CVI < 0.78. More than two-thirds (71%) and a half (55%) of standards showed CVI < 0.78 for optimization and evaluability criteria. The final set of UME national standards was structured in 9 areas, 24 sub-areas, 82 basic and 40 quality development standards, and 84 annotations. CONCLUSIONS We developed and validated national standards as a framework to ensure the quality of UME training with input from UME stakeholders. We used WFME standards as a benchmark while addressing local requirements. The standards and participatory approach to developing standards may guide relevant institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roghayeh Gandomkar
- Department of Medical Education, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Health Profession Education Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tahereh Changiz
- Department of Medical Education, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Medical Education Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Athar Omid
- Department of Medical Education, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Medical Education Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mahasti Alizadeh
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Medical Education Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Majid Khazaei
- Department of Physiology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Abtin Heidarzadah
- Medical Education Research center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Guilan, Iran
| | - Pouria Rouzrokh
- Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Mitra Amini
- Clinical Education Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hamid Honarpisheh
- Deputy of Education Faculty Member, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Secretariat of the Council of Undergraduate Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Laripour
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farshid Abedi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Babak Sabet
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azim Mirzazadeh
- Health Profession Education Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, No. 57, Hojjatdust Alley, Naderi St., Keshavarz Blvd, Tehran, 141663591, Iran.
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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