Background: Clinical teaching-learning is a context-bound phenomenon. One of the problems related to field of medical education research is the lack of sufficient attention to context-appropriate methodologies. The purpose of this qualitative inquiry is to explain and represent teaching-learning in the clinical education of general medicine in Iran using the three types of maps situational, social worlds/arenas, positional, in combination with discourse analysis. Methods: In this study, the authors used the situational analysis approach as a postmodern version of grounded theory. The data collection was undertaken in three stages. In the first stage, a mini literature review was conducted to highlight a possible gap in applying situational analysis in medical education research and the development of this methodology. In the second stage, the latest and most up-to-date documents of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) of Iran, the general medicine curriculum, and related documents were analyzed. Finally, the remote semi-structured interviews (web-based and telephone) were undertaken in the third stage. Participants in this stage included expert clinical teachers, medical education specialists, and students. In this study, the notes and transcripts were analyzed for the emergence and categorization of sub-themes and themes, represented in three maps. Results: Thirty-one participants were involved in the web-based interviews, while seven participants took part in the telephone interview. Based on this research, the teaching-learning situation in clinical education on general medicine in Iran was represented in three maps; situational, social worlds/arenas, and positional. In addition, the results showed, clinical education of general medicine in Iran in six positions (curriculum; culture, behavior and attitude; management and leadership; environment, space and time; financial; and technology) has serious problems and challenges. Finally, based on the horizontal axis of the positional map, recommendations were provided to develop and support effective clinical teaching. Conclusions: The clinical learning environment is a complex and multi-layered social environment in which should be considered these numerous social layers, arenas, social worlds, and discourses while developing curricula and teaching.

Teaching as the center of every curriculum is a set of actions undertaken to create and facilitate student learning. In recent years, the number of qualitative studies of effective teaching in clinical education of undergraduate medical education has increased. As the number of research studies grows, it is necessary to aggregate them. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to synthesize effective teaching-learning factors through the meta-synthesis in clinical education. In this study, the meta-synthesis approach was used to synthesize qualitative evidence in relation to effective teaching-learning factors in clinical education. From 1990 to 2021, electronic databases and journals were searched to identify studies and publications on effective teaching-learning factors in clinical education. Based on the combination and search strategies in the databases (OVID, PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Eric, Magiran, and SID), 33,799 and 56 studies were identified from other sources. Following reviewing the full text of the articles, 53 studies were selected. Forty-five studies were selected and included in the meta-synthesis process after critical appraisal using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program. The synthesis of qualitative evidence was developed as an effective teaching-learning framework in clinical education. Based on this comprehensive framework, effective teaching-learning in clinical education can be seen through behavioral or content (learner, teacher, and patient and their behaviors), social (collaborative learning community), pedagogical (instructional design and teaching-learning opportunities), contextual (positive and supportive clinical environment), and educational leadership (classroom management and structure) lenses. The current research is the first qualitative meta-synthesis to provide a thorough and comprehensive review of effective teaching-learning factors in clinical education. The results of this meta-synthesis provide a holistic view of clinical education and can help with clinical teaching-learning design.

Teaching-learning is the heart of medical education in the clinical setting. The objective of this research was to develop a conceptual model of effective clinical teaching in undergraduate medical education and conceptualize its operational framework based on the best fit approach. This research consisted of three sub-studies conducted using a multi-method approach. The first sub-study was conducted using a qualitative meta-synthesis approach. The second sub-study used Clarke’s situational analysis approach as a postmodern version of grounded theory. Finally, the third sub-study was designed in two stages. First, it was conducted using the expert panel, in the second step, framework of synthesis based on best fit, and the framework of Ottenhoff- de Jonge et al., which formed the basis of this study. In the first sub-study, qualitative evidence on the factors of effective teaching-learning in clinical education was synthesized into five dimensions. Based on the second sub-study, the clinical teaching-learning situation in undergraduate medical education in Iran was represented in three maps, including situational, social worlds/arenas, and positional. Finally, in the third sub-study, based on model modification and development in the expert panel, the effective teaching-learning dimensions were developed into behavioral, social, pedagogical, technology, contextual, educational leadership, and financial dimensions. In the second step, based on the framework of Ottenhoff- de Jonge et al., a three-dimensional matrix was developed concerning epistemological orientations about teaching and learning. Moving from a single teaching-centered and learning-centered orientation to a teaching-learning-centered orientation is required for effective teaching-learning in clinical medical education.

Background: Educational evaluation is one of the main pillars of educational systems, and course evaluation is a survey that students or course members complete at the end of a class or academic course. This study aims to evaluate the ‘Artificial Intelligence Fall School Program’ at Smart University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This study was conducted by collecting on various aspects of the course, including the course structure, teaching methods, instructors, scientific evaluations, and pre- and post-course tests. The course evaluation was conducted using an online questionnaire. In the initial phase of the study, the sample size was determined to be 96 participants, as calculated using Cochran’s formula. The research data were statistically analyzed at two levels: descriptive and inferential. Descriptive analysis was performed using statistical indicators such as frequency, percentage, and mean. The inferential analysis was conducted using the paired t test. Analyses were performed using SPSS 22. Results: From the viewpoint of the participants, all artificial intelligence (AI) schools in the field of medical sciences were deemed satisfactory. A paired t test was used to analyze and compare the pre-test and post-test scores of participants in the Fall AI schools. The results indicated an increase in the post-test scores of participants, following their involvement in the seven-week AI schools, compared to their pre-test scores. Conclusion: This evaluative study offers crucial insights into the effectiveness of the "Fall AI Schools" training program in fostering AI proficiency among medical professionals. The quantitative findings reveal a statistically significant positive response and learning outcomes among the participants across the seven specialized schools.

The shadow curriculum is an emerging concept in curriculum studies that has not yet garnered significant attention in medical education. It includes programs and activities outside formal education to improve students’ academic performance in the formal educational system. In this study, we designed and developed an online course based on the shadow curriculum and evaluated its effect on students’ learning and academic performance. This study represents a form of developmental research, with the study population comprising medical and dental students from universities of medical sciences in Iran. The course was conducted at the Smart University of Medical Sciences, following the ADDIE instructional design approach in three phases. The initial two phases involved designing and implementing the program according to the students’ needs and requirements. In the third phase, we evaluated the program using the Kirkpatrick model. In the first level evaluation, the reaction of 70 students in the course was investigated. To assess the impact of the course, pre and post-tests were administered to 30 students. Finally, the effect of the course on students’ success in the comprehensive exams for basic medical sciences, dentistry, and pre-internship was analyzed by examining the passing and failing statuses of 83 and 57 students who participated in the September 2023 and February 2024 exams. The results indicated that the students responded positively to the program. The analysis of pre-test and post-test scores showed a significant improvement in the students’ academic performance across all the subjects presented in the course, including basic medical sciences, dentistry, and pre-internship (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). Overall, the descriptive analysis of the program’s influence on the students’ success in comprehensive exams in basic medical sciences, dentistry, and pre-internship showed that 70 out of 83 participating students passed the September 2023 comprehensive exams. Additionally, 51 out of 57 participants completed the comprehensive exams in February 2024. In an era where the shadow curriculum is reshaping learning and the educational landscape, the findings presented in this study indicate that this type of curriculum should be given special attention in the theoretical, research, and practical dimensions of the field of medical education.

Journal of North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی خراسان شمالی