Background: Changes in the structure and nature of health care highlight the need for better collaboration between professions focusing on patient or health-care users. Interprofessional education (IPE) has attracted a lot of attention at the international level, and its positive consequences in different areas of health care have been investigated and approved. This study explored the opinions and viewpoints of professors and experts regarding the challenges to the implementation of interprofessional education in health profession education in Iran in 2018. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted with 15 IPE professors and experts using semi-structured interviews. We used an inductive approach to content analysis as developed by Elo et al. The interviews were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman method by MAXQDA software version 12. Results: The main challenges to the implementation of IPE were categorized into educational system, structural and cultural challenges. The educational challenges were the professors’ lack of ability, a non-flexible and single-disciplined curriculum, and weaknesses in the current education. The professors and experts felt that the most important structural challenges included centralism, hierarchy of power, poor educational groundwork, and lack of support of organizations. Cultural challenges mainly related to the attitudes of managers, professors, and even students regarding IPE and the need for change. Conclusion: Designing and implementing IPE in Iran face major challenges. Cultural and attitude issues were the greatest challenges to be addressed in the context of implementing IPE in health-care education.

Background: Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABGS) may fail to adhere to their treatment regimen for many reasons. Among these, one of the most important reasons for nonadherence is the inadequate training of such patients or training using inappropriate methods. Objective: This study aimed to compare the effect of gamification and teach-back training methods on adherence to a therapeutic regimen in patients after CABGS. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 123 patients undergoing CABGS in Tehran, Iran, in 2019. Training was provided to the teach-back group individually. In the gamification group, an app developed for the purpose was installed on each patient’s smartphone, with training given via this device. The control group received usual care, or routine training. Adherence to the therapeutic regimen was assessed using a questionnaire on adherence to a therapeutic regimen (physical activity and dietary regimen) and an adherence scale as a pretest and a 1-month posttest. Results: One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for comparing the mean scores of teach-back and gamification training methods showed that the mean normalized scores for the dietary regimen (P<.001, F=71.80), movement regimen (P<.001, F=124.53), and medication regimen (P<.001, F=9.66) before and after intervention were significantly different between the teach-back, gamification, and control groups. In addition, the results of the Dunnett test showed that the teach-back and gamification groups were significantly different from the control group in all three treatment regimen methods. There was no statistically significant difference in adherence to the therapeutic regimen between the teach-back and control groups. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, the use of teach-back and gamification training approaches may be suggested for patients after CABGS to facilitate adherence to the therapeutic regimen. Trial Registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20111203008286N8; https://en.irct.ir/trial/41507

Context: The set of learning and experiences gained by learners is not limited to formal and explicit curriculum, and there are inevitably other factors besides the explicit curriculum. These factors are valuable opportunities that can enrich the learning experience and, on the other hand, are threats that challenge the education system if ignored. Objectives: The purpose of this review was to summarize evidence on the hidden curriculum in online education. Data Sources: This study is a systematized review of scientific-research articles in the field of hidden curriculum in online education. For this purpose, databases of Scopus, Ovid, web of science, PubMed, Google Scholar, ProQuest, ERIC, and Science Direct were searched. No restrictions were placed on the year of publication. Results: Out of 487 articles after excluding irrelevant articles, nine articles were included in this study for full-text review. Of the nine studies reviewed, the hidden curriculum in online education has been improved in one study. Individual characteristics of the learning environment (self-esteem, vulnerability, social acceptance, stress) in two studies, learning environment in five studies, interaction in three studies, teaching and evaluation methods in one study, rules and regulations in two studies, and teaching time in one study have been identified as the main factors behind the formation of a hidden curriculum in online education. Conclusions: The hidden curriculum is a reflection of what students receive in the learning environment; so we need to pay attention to this environment. A review of studies in the hidden e-learning curriculum showed that the hidden curriculum is important because it has a strong influence on the learners in many ways. Online education, like traditional education, has latent learning that can affect education.

Medical education has undergone significant transformations, driven by rapid technological advancements. This systematic review aims to map and analyze educational technology trends from the late 1970s to 2024, tracing their evolution and their Impacts on competency development. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across seven databases in August 2024, yielding 18 studies published between 1978 and 2024 for qualitative, thematic synthesis. The findings indicate that technology integration has evolved through distinct trends. While simulation-based approaches were most frequently reported to enhance clinical reasoning and psychomotor skills, blended learning was highlighted for enabling flexible delivery, and other technologies, such as e-learning platforms and Web 2.0 tools, also played significant roles in supporting knowledge acquisition and collaborative learning. Despite these benefits, high costs, infrastructure limitations, and the need for specialized faculty training were identified as persistent barriers to adoption. In conclusion, the literature review indicates that technological trends have enriched medical education by fostering interactive, accessible, and flexible learning environments. Future strategies must therefore focus on developing scalable, cost-effective solutions. A dedicated systematic review of AI’s trajectory and impact is strongly recommended as a critical next step, building upon the historical foundation laid by this study.

The increasing growth of technology affects all aspects of life, including the system of education, and requires the implementation of a new education system. Since Electronic-learning (E-L) is a new and mutated form of education in Iran, its professional functions approach is different from that of traditional education. The present article aims to explain the concept and dimensions of professional functions in this field. Through a qualitative study, method and data source triangulation were used. To do so, the data sources were the professors, scholars, students, and graduates of this educational system in the field of medical sciences. To triangulate the methods, in-depth semi-structured interviews as well as focus groups, note-taking and reminders were used. The purposeful sampling consisted of 10 professors and scholars. Fifteen students and graduates participated in the four-session focus group discussions purposeful, and the sample consisted of 10 professors and scholars as well as seven students and graduates, and a total of 15 students and graduates were willing to participate in the focus group discussions. Inductive content analysis was used for the analysis of data. Three themes arose from the study as follows: E-learning prerequisites, E-Leaning enabling factors, and E-Learning obstacles. Each of the themes is explained along with the relevant categories and subcategories. Discovering the dimensions and elements affecting professional functions in the E-Lsystem of medical sciences, this study provided documented meanings and dimensions of this phenomenon beyond the conventional sense. These dimensions can have direct or indirect impacts on professional functions in this field.

Introduction: According to rapid growth of innovation in use of technologies in education and learning, blended learning has become an effective method in the student’s education. The purpose of this study was to extract the factors related to effective blended learning and compare the viewpoints of students and instructors in this regard. Methods: Mixed method model was used in this study. A content analysis approach was employed in the qualitative phase of the study. Seven faculty members and eight master’s students of medical sciences selected through purposive sampling participated in the qualitative phase. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted for data collection. In the quantitative phase, appropriate and relevant items were designed based on the main concepts of theoretical and practical definitions that were extracted in the qualitative phase. Results: The results of the qualitative phase were 5 categories and 40 subcategories, including student’s capabilities, teacher merits, technological aspects, pedagogic topics and supportive environment. Discussion: The results of the questionnaire analysis showed no significant difference in student capabilities and supportive environment between the viewpoints of students and faculty members while there were significant differences in other categories. Although new technologies have offered promising opportunities, they do not result in effective education. The results of the present study suggest that a major revision in student and instructor admission and provision of required technical facilities can promote the status of this type of education. On the other hand, instructor empowerment programs in this field can enhance the effectiveness of virtual education.